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Daybreak, Part II

2009-03-22T11:27:46Z

Ginsengaddict: /* Act 6 */

{{Episode Data
| image=Daybreak Teaser.jpg
| title= Daybreak, Part II
| season= 4
| episode= 20
| guests=
| writer= [[Ronald D. Moore]]<ref>http://rondmoore.com/Site/Blog/Entries/2008/4/18_Podcast_Success!.html</ref>
| story=
| director=
| production=422
| rating=
| US airdate=March 20, 2009 <ref>http://tv.ign.com/articles/920/920164p1.html</ref>
| CAN airdate=March 20, 2009
| UK airdate=March 24, 2009
| dvd=
| population=
| prev=[[Daybreak, Part I]]
| next=[[The Plan]]
| extra='''Series Finale - 2 Hour Episode'''<ref>http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2008/06/battlestars-fin.html</ref>
| forumthread=3050
}}

== Overview ==

===Act 1===

* The final episode begins with a series of events before before the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Fall]].
* In a strip bar in [[Caprica City]], [[William Adama]] and [[Saul Tigh|Saul]] and [[Ellen Tigh]] enjoy themselves.
* Adama questions whether to take a civilian job, rather than to take command of an aged battlestar<ref>This is a side reference to the events of the episode, "[[Hero]]"</ref> Over drinks, Adama decides to take the job.

* Elsewhere on Caprica, [[Lee Adama]] is having dinner with [[Kara Thrace]] and her fiancee, [[Zak Adama]].
* Zak questions why his brother joined the [[Colonial Forces]], despite Lee's idealism and his dislike of his father. Lee simply answers that he received college funding in exchange for service.

* Elsewhere, [[Laura Roslin]] greets her date, [[Sean Allison]], at her home. After realizing he seemed familiar, Roslin finally recalls where she had seen him. Sean was a former student from years ago.
* Despite the age difference, Roslin decides to let him stay the night. "The night's young. Apparently, so are you," she says. "Let's see what happens."

* Back at the strip bar, Bill Adama challenges Saul on whether he'd take the civilian desk job. Saul doesn't answer.

* Lee Adama and Thrace manage to drag Zak back to the apartment after a night of drinking. But Thrace isn't done, and pulls out more alcohol for shots between her and Lee.

* Bill Adama is drunkenly sick, vomiting outside somewhere on the street. With a weak smile, he looks up to the stars in the night sky.

* The scene shifts back to present day on ''[[Galactica]]'', where [[Gaius Baltar]] sits in the former home of his [[Cult of Baltar|followers]], now empty.
* He listens to the [[Virtual Beings|virtual Six]], telling him to trust in [[God (RDM)|God's plan]] for him. When he asks what that plan is, she tells him that he already following it.

===Act 2===

* In ''Galactica's'' [[sickbay]], Dr. [[Cottle]] (who will not be staying aboard the ship for the battle) leaves assistant [[Layne Ishay]] two injections of heavy medication to allow Laura Roslin enough lucidity and mobility for 48 hours. She thanks him sincerely, causing Cottle to be something he'd rarely been: speechless.

* In the [[pilot ready room]], [[Karl Agathon]] briefs the [[Raptor]] teams on the special nature of their rescue mission. Despite the odds, all volunteer.

* Lee Adama briefs the [[marines]] on where little Hera would likely be: deep inside the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylon]] [[The Colony|colony]].

* Admiral Adama work out the tactics of the battle against the colony. Close-range combat; nuclear weapons and missiles will not be possible for the battlestar. He orders the gun [[battery|batteries]] to fire until exhausted, and after that, "start throwing rocks," he says with a small smile.

* The [[Final Five]] plan out what they can offer as well. As befitting a cybernetic race, they consider a tactic used by Cylons in the past. They will use [[Samuel Anders]], now effectively a [[Hybrid]] on ''[[Galactica]]'', to interface with the Colony and its Hybrids to interrupt their commands, slowing the effectiveness of the Colony's weapon systems.
* The catch is that Anders will need to be connected to the [[DRADIS]], fire control and [[C-3]] systems. They plan to take Anders and connect him inside [[CIC]].

* Admiral Adama hands over command of the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] to [[Hoshi]], noting that if they aren't back from the mission in 12 hours, they will never come back.
* In CIC, Saul Tigh jokes at his old friend at the bizarre sight of a Cylon interfaced to his battlestar, gooey wires and conduit that extend over Adama's command console everywhere and into the DRADIS console. "Still not too late to flush them all out of the airlock," Tigh quips. "Take too much time," Adama answers.
* With Lee Adama staying for the attack, he appoints [[Romo Lampkin]] is appointed as President of the Twelve Colonies. He joins Admiral Hoshi on the last Raptor to leave ''Galactica'' for the baseship, the Fleet's new flagship.
* Baltar's followers get in the ship. Baltar enters, but then tells [[Paulla]] that he must stay on the ship. Lee Adama throws Baltar a weapon.
* Adding to the battlestar's attack force, a Number Six leads a large number of [[Cylon Centurion]]s down the [[hangar deck]], some with a red sash painted on them for identification.

===Act 3===

* A shot of the Fleet shows that the rebel [[Basestar (RDM)|baseship]] has fully regenerated from its damage from the start of the [[Cylon Civil War]]. It is ready to lead the civilians to safety while ''Galactica'' goes hunting, retracting its [[flight pod]]s to prep for [[FTL]].
* Adama commands a ship-wide readiness report, a sort of countdown.
* Meanwhile, in sickbay, Layne Ishay prep sickbay for wounded. Laura Roslin assists as best she can.
* [[Viper (RDM)|Vipers]] are in [[launch tube]]s. The entire Raptor squadron, armed with missiles, have been placed inside the starboard flight pod deck, amidst the ruins of the old [[Galactica Museum]].
* Gaius Baltar is a soldier protecting the hallways against borders. He is surprised to find [[Caprica-Six]] by his side.
* In CIC, Ellen Tigh signals that Anders is ready to work.
* Adama gives a final speech, a final understanding and call to arms.

* The battlestar jumps only meters from the edge of the Colony--and is immediately besieged by the Cylon batteries.
* With little time, Sam Anders attempts to make contact with the Colony Hybrids--and takes them offline, apparently by causing them to go into a state of ecstasy. Ellen warns that [[Cylon Raider]]s will appear any minute.
* ''Galactica'' responds by launching its fighter wings. The Vipers launch, and the Raptors jump directly from within the starboard pod--causing incredible damage to the pod as it vents open--but now placing themselves on the opposite side of the Colony in a flanking position.
* Adama orders the battlestar's engines at flank speed. He rams the alligator head into the Colony. ''Galactica's'' inhabitants take a beating, but so does the Colony. The Colonials have breeched it, forming an entrance. Lee Adama leads his marines and several Cylon Centurions inside from a front airlock.
* [[Sharon Agathon]] and Helo's Raptor make their way to the Colony's interior.
* [[Racetrack]] and [[Skulls]] arm their nuclear missiles, presumably to strike the colony after the rescue. But suddenly a piece of debris strikes their Raptor, killing all aboard and leaving the Raptor adrift.
* The Raptors breech another section of the Colony, and their teams enter.

* Deep inside the Colony, a [[Simon]] works on young Hera as [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] looks on in disgust. When she questions why he continues to work on Hera, the Simon explains that they maintain and superior force and numbers.
* Suddenly, Boomer assaults the Simon, snapping his neck. She takes Hera out of the room.

===Act 4===

* The Colony's halls are filled with gunfire. Cylon Centurions, including older [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005|Model 0005s]] fight each other as the Colonial fire teams push through.
* [[Cavil]], a [[Number Five]] and another Simon decide to go on the defensive, to attack the battlestar with their troops.

* In a hallway in ''Galactica'', ready to repel boarders, Caprica-Six and Baltar come to terms with their old relationship. As they kiss, they hear a Six's voice. "All of the pieces are falling into place."
* The Virtual Six--''and'' the Virtual Baltar--stand above them. To the surprise of Caprica-Six and Baltar, they can hear and see each of the avatars.
* With a shudder, the battlestar hull is breeched as waves of enemy Centurions, both old-model and modern, pour into the ship.

* The Agathon's team find Boomer, holding Hera. She gives the child to them, telling them to tell Admiral Adama that she "owed him one." With the child safe, Athena shoots Boomer.
* A flashback scene shows what Boomer meant: a time back in her days on '''Galactica'', as Adama and Tigh redress her but give her another chance to be a better pilot.

* Ishay has her hands full in sickbay, trying to triage and treat as many people as she can. The event is taxing, physically and mentally, for Roslin, as she comforts more dying than not.

* Lee Adama's team connects with Starbuck's team, with Hera in tow. When Lee asks where Thrace was, she answers, "Stopped for coffee."<ref>This might be the one time in the history of the series where an obvious joke to [[w:Starbucks Coffee|Starbucks Coffee]] has been used.</ref> With their objective complete and no other battlestar patrols found, they head back to the battlestar's alligator-head.

* ''Galactica'' batteries are being targeted by Raiders. She is losing what little defensive ability she has left. Enemy forces are coming at the reserve forces--where Baltar waits.

===Act 5===

* Caprica-Six and Baltar hold off the enemy Centurions. Baltar's passion at killing Centurions gets a bit out of control as Lee Adama's team reenter the battlestar with Hera. As more enemies appear, Lee and Baltar fire away.
* Laura Roslin sits and experiences yet another vision of the [[Opera House]] and little Hera. Struggling to walk, driven by something she can't fully realize, she gets up to find Hera.
* Starbuck leads the Agathons through the hallways, but a Number Five appears, seriously wounding Helo in the leg and killing a marine before Starbuck eliminates him. In the confusion, Hera runs away. Athena runs after her.
* Hera walks amidst the gunfighting, when soon she encounters Roslin, who pulls out of the path of an enemy patrol and to safety. But when Roslin turns back to the child, she is gone again.
* Caprica-Six and Baltar are running, and are out of ammo. Suddenly they see Hera, as well as Roslin and Athena--all grouped together as in the Opera House vision. Caprica-Six scoops up the child and enters a hallway, closing the hatchway, preventing Athena from following.
* As the scene shifts between visions of the Opera House and the corridors, Baltar and Caprica-Six realize what they must do: They follow their vision into the Opera House--which turns out to be CIC, where the Final Five reside, overlooking the lower deck of CIC as they appeared in the vision, standing above.
* Suddenly Cavil, a Number Five and a Simon enter the room. Cavil grabs Hera as a shield.
* Baltar pleads for the child's freedom, telling Cavil that Hera is key to humanity's survival as well. He reasons with Cavil that there are higher forces at work, that led them all, here, for a reason. When Cavil questions if God has his people's interests at heart, on how Baltar knows that God is on his side, Baltar replies (in an allusion of something [[Miniseries, Part 1|he once said to the virtual Six]]), "God is not on any one's side." The Virtual Six and Virtual Baltar look on with a pleased expression.
* Baltar asks Cavil to take a leap of faith. Saul Tigh sweetens the pot by offering to reteach Cavil the secret of [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection]], this time in exchange not only for Hera's life but for permanent peace, where the Cylons leave humanity alone.
* Cavil agrees. He uses the battlestar comm to order his forces to stand down and releases Hera. Admiral Adama orders stand-down as well.

===Act 6===

* Vipers and Raptors return to ''Galactica''' as Raiders return to the Colony. Laura Roslin joins the admiral in CIC.
* The Five each know part of the secret to resurrection. They will combine their knowledge by connecting themselves through the water in Ander's tank. Ellen Tigh tells the others that the process will also share memories as well as data.
* But before they begin, [[Tory Foster]], visibly anxious, warns the others that they will see "certain things" of their bad behavior. She tries to prepare the others of what they will see of her. An impatient Cavil screams. "I don't mean to rush you, but you are keeping two civilizations waiting!"
* The Five dip their hands and make the connection. As the data flows to the Colony, Foster's visions of murdering [[Cally Tyrol]] in an effort to protect her secret of being a Cylon comes to the forefront, surprising the others of the Five, and angering [[Galen Tyrol]] immediately.
* Tyrol pulls his hand from the pool and wraps both hands tightly around Foster's neck in a death-grip, eventually snapping her neck.
* As Anders screams from the sudden disconnection, the Cylons in CIC believe they are deceived and open fire. The Colonials kill all but Cavil, who shouts an exasperated "[[Frak]]!" before putting his pistol in his mouth and pulling the trigger.

* High above, as gunfire begins again over ''Galactica'', [[Racetrack]]'s Raptor drifts, its crew lifeless. A rock strikes the ship, causing Racetrack's dead hand to strike the firing button to the Raptor's tactical nuclear missiles, launching them all straight at the Colony.
* The force of the explosions disable the Colony, pushing it towards the black hole, threatening to take ''Galactica'' with it.
* Adama orders Kara Thrace to make a [[blind jump]], but Thrace thinks about [[The Music|the music her father played]], the music that Hera wrote to her. Recalling the mathematical associations she tried to discern from the music, Thrace realizes the music works as a series of FTL coordinates.
* She punches in the coordinates into the [[Computers|navigation computer]] and jumps the ship.

* A flashback scene appears where Lee Adama and Kara Thrace talk about how she [[The Destiny|thinks about death]] every time she gets into a cockpit.

* ''Galactica'' completes the jump--but the strain of the last battle causes the battlestar's structure to ripple and twist as structural members tear and break. The ship will never jump again. Engines and life support are okay, but ''Galactica's'' backbone is broken.
* "Where have you taken us, Kara?" Roslin asks, as the scene changes to an exterior shot to show the battlestar flying over a gray, rocky moon.
* But is not just a moon...''Galactica'' has arrived at the ''moon of Earth''...another Earth, this one with the continent of Africa in prominent view.

===Act 7===

* The Fleet jumps into Earth orbit as ''Galactica'' passes by. A Raptor came to Hoshi to guide them to Earth.
* Landing ship after landing ship leave for the new world.
* On a green, rich savannah in Africa, Admiral Adama, Cottle, Saul Tigh, Hoshi, and Baltar look on, lying prone on their stomachs with binoculars at a tribe of early humans. Cottle confirms that the native humans are compatible genetically.
* At a camp, as Lampkin considers a building of a new city, Lee Adama tells him to let humanity start all over again, leave their technology behind, which has almost always gotten them into trouble. Let the Colonials enter Earth with just their basic possessions.

* Admiral Adama maps out a plan to populate various continents and land masses, spreading out humanity and Cylon far and wide, distributing supplies to give all a good chance of survival. To Lampkin's surprise, the peoples of the Fleet take a liking to leaving technology behind.
* A [[Number Two]] tells Adama that the remaining Cylons will stay as well on Earth, handing over the baseship to the Centurions, to give them their own freedom. When Lampkin questions if setting the Centurions free won't cause another holocaust hundreds of years from now, Ellen Tigh agrees it's a risk, but believes the cycle of death has been ended. Adama agrees.
* Adama tells that, after everyone is offloaded from the ships, the Fleet will reunite with '''Galactica'' a final time. Piloted by Samuel Anders, still in his tank in CIC, connected into the battlestar, he will fly all the ships on a final voyage into the Sun.

* Kara Thrace, eyes filled with tears, meets with Anders at his tank, kissing him goodbye for the last time, and leaving her [[dog tags]]. As she leaves, he mutters, "I''ll see you on the other side."

===Act 8===

* Admiral William Adama descends into the hangar deck, wearing a [[flight suit]]. The deck is otherwise completely empty of anything, and anyone.
* He takes a seat in a [[Viper Mark II]]. Not just any Mark II...but the one that Galen Tyrol's team rebuilt for him as a retirement gift [[Miniseries, Night 1|so long ago]].
* As Adama's Viper launches, the scene shifts to six years prior, where Adama is taking a lie detector test for the prospective desk job. When the test administrator asks him test questions such as, "Are you a Cylon?" and "Have you ever stolen money from a cash drawer?" Adama is angered and leaves, saying, "I'd rather spend the rest of my career--what's left of it--on a broken old down ship, than to have someone sit here and question my word."
* Husker's Viper makes a final fly-by of the old battlestar, looking at her one last time before pointing his Viper towards Earth.

* Samuel Anders's voice from the past talks of his days in sport, dreaming of perfection, and being linked to it, to creation, as Anders's guides the Fleet, now united to the mathematical perfection he once spoke of through his duties as a Hybrid.
* As a version of the [[Original Series]] main theme plays, the scene shows ''Galactica'' and the Fleet gathered a final time, heading away from Earth and towards the sun to its demise.

* Walking in the savannah, the Tighs speak with Galen Tyrol a final time. He has decided to go to the northern highlands of Earth, what will likely be Ireland or Iceland. The scene shifts to the Tighs, partying back in Caprica City, once upon a time.

===Act 9===

* On the plains, Bill Adama sits with Laura Roslin, watching herds of gazelle. Her vision weakening, she tries to use her glasses with the binoculars. "A very beautiful world," she says. When she asks what the name of the planet is, Adama tells her it's Earth. He adds, "Earth is a dream," believing that their new home, a long-sought destination, deserves the name.
* Roslin's breathing becomes labored and shallow. Adama offers to give her a better look at the wildlife. He picks her up and carries her to a nearby Raptor.
* Lee Adama and Kara Thrace notice and meet Bill Adama there. The Adamas hug, and Bill Adama gives Thrace a final greeting of "[[Nothing but the rain]]" before he hugs and kisses her. Thrace and Lee wave goodbye to a smiling Roslin as the Raptor ascends.

* Lee realizes that his father isn't coming back. Kara Thrace tells Lee that she isn't coming back, either. "I just know that I am done here. I've completed my journey...and it feels good."

* A flashback scene, back in Thrace's apartment, where Thrace dares Lee to make love to her on her dining room table. But before they could do anything, the crash of a glass partially awakens Zak, causing the two to realize what they were doing. They shake hands and say goodbye.

* "Today is the first day of the rest of your life, Lee," Kara Thrace says. As Lee tells her of desire to explore and climb mountains, he turns to find that Kara Thrace has vanished, as if she were a ghost. "Goodbye, Kara," he says. "You won't be forgotten."
* A flashback scene shows the pigeon that would be trapped in Lee's apartment after his visit to Kara and Zak. It looks at Lee and flies out of the window and away.

* In another flashback from six years prior, Laura Roslin returns to stand by the side of the bed, thanks Sean Allison, but tells him that they will not meet this way again, and asks him to leave. As the man leaves, Roslin returns to her bathroom, lights a cigarette, then makes a phone call. She accepts the opportunity to work on Mayor [[Richard Adar]]'s campaign.

* Bill Adama's Raptor flies over flamingos. "So much..life," Laura Roslin says...her final words as she closes her eyes and quietly passes.
* Moments go by before Bill realizes that she is gone.
* In tears, Bill removes his wedding ring and places it on Laura's hand. "Right there...I'm going to build our cabin right there," he says, pointing to some hills.

===Act 10===

* A line of people walk into the wilderness, calm and ready to take on the world.
* The Agathons walk as well, Helo using a makeshift crutch, talking of hunting and other pleasantries. Hera runs about in play, a smile on her face.
* Gaius Baltar and Caprica-Six look on at Hera playing as the Virtual Six and Baltar reappear. When Caprica-Six questions if the protection of Hera was all that God wanted of them, the Virtual Six replies, "God's plan is never complete." "Great..." Baltar replies sullenly.
* Virtual-Baltar counters, "I think it's safe to say that, from now on, your lives will be less...eventful."

* Another flashback to Caprica City. Baltar offers Caprica-Six an opportunity to "peek" into the [[Colonial Defense Mainframe]].

* When Baltar points to some land, he recalls his heritage, and [[Junius Baltar|his father]], and that he knows a bit about farming, to a bit of tears.

* Bill Adama sits, looking out into the hills and valley. "I laid out the cabin today. It's going to have an easterly view. You should see the light that we get here. When the sun comes from behind those mountains. It's almost heavenly. It reminds me of you."
* As he speaks, the camera pans up to show Adama, seated near the cairn he built for Laura Roslin's body.

* The scene turns to show Hera playing and looking upward. Scenes of wood and desert and sea pass by in a geologic montage to reveal an Earth city--New York City--150,000 years ahead in time.

* As a fly-over of the city appears, a voice-over news report tells of the Tanzanian discovery of the bones of what scientists believe our the remains of the [[w:mitochondrial Eve|mitochondrial Eve]], the common ancestor of mankind.

* As [[Ron D. Moore|Ron D. Moore reads]] about the scientific discovery, the Virtual Six and Baltar look over his shoulder at a magazine article of the news, and reveal what they know...the bones are that of Hera Agathon, born of a Cylon mother and a human father. No other people on the street appear to notice them.
* The two talk of the technology and decadence, of whether this Earth will repeat the mistakes of generations past and again become overwhelmed by their creations. The Six thinks not, believing it to be God's plan.
* "You know He doesn't like that name," Baltar says. Six only looks back in mild defiance. "Silly. Silly me," he replies as the two walk away into the metropolis.

* The episode concludes with scenes of robots, from toys to advanced automatons growing and evolving, as Jimi Hendrix's--Earth's popular version--of "[[The Music|All Along The Watchtower]]" plays.
* The story ends.

== Notes ==
*A portion of this episode was being filmed in [[w:Kamloops| Kamloops, BC]] during the week of June 16, 2008. Local extras of all ages were utilized for this scene (or scenes) and were required to have an athletic build and a clean-cut look, or to be slim with long hair or dreadlocks. Extras were auditioned at Best Western room 137 (in Kamloops) on June 12th <ref>http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_thompson_nicola/kamloopsthisweek/entertainment/19788509.html</ref>. The rural area surrounding Kamloops was previously utilized to depict the [[algae planet]] in "[[The Eye of Jupiter]]" and "[[Rapture]]".
*Although Part I had a runtime of one hour, Part II will run for two hours. An even longer cut of Daybreak will later be released on DVD. <ref>{{cite_news|first=|last=|url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2008/07/talking-battles.html|title=Talking 'Battlestar Galactica's' finale, 'Caprica' and the 'Battlestar' TV movie with Ron Moore}}</ref>
*There was no final population count given after the engagement with the Cavil forces. However, there were no reported deaths by accident or violence before the engagement so the population count is most likely the same as it was in "[[Daybreak, Part I]]" before the attack on the Colony.
*There is a poetic ring to the nature of the conflict of the Second Cylon War. It began with the Cylon attack on Colonies nearly wiping out mankind. It ended with the Colonial attack on the Cylon Colony very likely wiping out the Cylons who didn't join with the humans. This is also in line with [[Romo Lampkin]]'s observation of him being President of it being "Poetic justice" and Lee Adama's "What goes around, comes around" since Lampkin originally pushed him to be a politician.
*Giaus Baltar with deliberate aforethought gave Caprica Six the back door to the Colonial defenses. He still did not know Caprica Six was a Cylon, but he did commit willful corporate espionage knowing he would be punished for it.
*This episode marks the deaths of [[Boomer]], [[Cavil]], [[Racetrack]], [[Skulls]], [[Tory Foster]], [[Samuel Anders]] and [[Laura Roslin]] and the destruction of Cavil's forces. The [[Doral]] and [[Simon]] lines are also presumably wiped out, or at least decimated beyond recovery. [[Kara Thrace]], having fulfilled her purpose, vanishes without a trace and her whereabouts are unknown. In detail:
**Boomer was killed by [[Athena]] in revenge for taking [[Hera]], sleeping with [[Helo]] and beating her in the lavatory.
**Cavil took his own life in Galactica's CIC when his side lost.
**Racetrack and Skulls's Raptor was stuck by a meteor penetrating their wind screen and striking them. Both Skulls and Racetrack were killed on impact. Racetrack's dead hand later hit the launch button that launched the nuclear missiles after her Raptor was hit again by a asteroid.
**Tory was killed by [[Galen Tyrol]] in revenge for Tory killing his wife [[Cally]] after he learned Tory murdered her during the mutual and involuntary exchange of private information of the [[Final Five]]'s minds while downloading Resurrection technology data to the Cavil forces.
**Anders guided himself in ''Galactica'' and the Fleet into the Sun.
**Roslin died of cancer as Adama was giving her a bird's eye view of their new home on second Earth in a Raptor.
**Since they did not have either Cylon females or Resurrection the Cavil, Simon and Doral models on the various Cylon Baseships presumably died out after their natural life spans were exhausted.
**Kara was presumably taken by the same force, probably God, that resurrected her.
*This episode also marks the destruction of the ''Galactica'' and her Fleet.
*Humanity, along with the Cylons, finally reaches its new homeworld, names it Earth and the humans of today are the Colonials and probably the Rebel Cylons, descendants 150,000 years later. The [[Leoben]]s, [[Six]]s and [[Sharon]] models from the Baseship joined the Colonials on the new Earth.
*The Centurions are granted full independence and subsequently depart in the rebel Baseship to pursue their own destiny.
*The ''[http://cnc.wikia.com/wiki/Kodiak Kodiak]'', the command ship of the Global Defence Initiative (GDI) faction from the computer game ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Command_%26_Conquer:_Tiberian_Sun Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun]'' is seen among the fleet in one establishing shot.

== Analysis ==

*The coordinates that Thrace enters, 1123 / 6536 / 5321 correspond to the notation of the Final Four theme [http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/theme-watchtower.jpg]. The song is in a C# Phrygian scale (enharmonic with A major and F# minor). 1 represents C#, and each higher integer indicates the next note in the scale, such that

:1 = C#
:2 = D
:3 = E
:(4 = F#)
:5 = G#
:6 = A
:(7 = B)

:The linked graphic omits the first and last note of the theme, but both can be heard in the soundtrack during the jump montage. The second "five" (in the third chunk of four digits) corresponds to the tuplet G#/A/G#, effectively omitting the trill up to high A. Every note has the same duration except for the last two, which are twice the length of the others.
*The Virtual Beings are angels of God who came to guide Baltar and Caprica Six in their destiny of protecting Hera.
*Kara Thrace is an angel who was sent back from the dead to guide humanity to a new home the coordinates of which were hidden in The Music.
*As noted in the "Notes" section it is unlikely that the Cavil, Simon and Doral lines will continue without Cylon females. The [[Three]]s are extinct with the last copy [[D'Anna Biers]] herself dying on the original Earth; Boomer killed in the Colony (and in anycase couldn't single handedly save the lines even if she were alive); and the last Sixes and Eights staying with the humans on the second Earth. However, there is the possibility of having a few remaining human females from the survivors of the various Colonial worlds including [[Caprica]] being viable, so the lines could in theory continue. However, given the total lack of success in the forced breeding of Cylons and humans and the Cavil, Dorals and Simon's cynical view of love, an apparent requirement of conception between both Cylon-Cylon and Cylon-human combinations, it is unlikely.
*The scene where Adama is being questioned and abruptly quits the interview references the classic Sci-Fi film [[Wikipedia:Blade Runner|Blade Runner]], which also starred Edward James Olmos.
*[[Ronald D. Moore]] appears as himslef holding a ''National Geographic'' magazine in New York City. With this scene the series Battlestar Galactica becomes part of itself as [[Ronald D. Moore]] later creates the series with the knowledge of mitochondrial Eve.
*The shelters erected by the Colonials on Earth resemble [[Wikipedia:Quonset hut|Quonset huts]], World War II-era temporary structures.
*The final scenes of this episode, in fast-forwarding through time and attempting to set the entire work as a backstory, make the ending similar to that of the film [[Wikipedia:How the West Was Won (film)|How the West Was Won]].

== Questions ==
* Since Caprica Six and Giaus Baltar genuinely love each other do they have a child?
* What becomes of the Centurions?
** Do they go after the remnants of Cavil's forces, or go their separate ways?
** Will the freed Centurions eventually develop their own humanoid forms?
* Did any copies of Cavil, Doral, or Simon survive?
* Why does Cavil choose to commit suicide?
**He probably realized he lost and just gave up.
* What becomes of the Baseships seen orbiting the Colony?
** It's possible the nuclear blast could have propelled them right into the [[blackhole]].
* Are any other human-Cylon hybrids born on Earth, or do the Twos, Sixes, and Eights remain childless?
* If "it" doesn't like to be called [[God (RDM)|God]], what does "it" like to be called?
* Will modern humans discover remains of Colonial technology such as Raptors?
** That probably depends on how hard we look.
* Why do the angels still look like Baltar and Six 150,000 years later?
** Probably so the audience will still recognize them, or it may have been a time jump of sorts by them to look into the future.
* Will humanity repeat the Cycle?
* Are Thrace and Anders together?
* Can Thrace ever return again?
* Do Baltar and Caprica-Six marry? Do they go into isolation like Adama and Tyrol, or will they be near a human colony?
* Do Adama and Tyrol stay isolated for the rest of their lives?
* Why was Romo Lampkin chosen as President? Wouldn't a member of the Quorum of Captains have been selected?
* What became of the remaining prisoners aboard the <i>[[Astral Queen]]</i>? Were they sent out amongst the rest of the human population, or were all of them deposited in some geographical area completely isolated from the other humans?
* Were any of the groups provided with medicine, or medical training or at least someone with medical knowledge before spreading out among the world?
* Is God related to the Lords of Kobol or something completely different?
* Why did the First Hybrid not want humanity to follow Thrace?
* How many angels are there? Are the ones that resemble Six and Baltar the same as those that appeared to the Final Five and Thrace, or distinct?
* Why have angels not been appearing to the Final Five since Old Earth's destruction, only to Baltar, Six, and Thrace?
* Since the notes of All Along the Watchtower lead to Earth, do they still serve a purpose on Earth?
* Will analysis of Hera's remains reveal that she was not a normal human?
**No, since our reference for "normal human" is her descendants, she'd look like the rest of us.
* Does human life evolve on planets other than Kobol and the new Earth?
* Who did Hera eventually have children with? A human or a Cylon?
**Most likely a human. Saul Tigh and the Leobens would be too old for her. While it was common in ancient times for men far older than their brides, for example as young as the female being 12 and and the male being 60, Colonial mores, which are much like our own in real life, would forbid the Leobens from sexual congress with Hera when she reach the accepted reproductive age. On the other hand there were many human children about her age and slightly older in the Fleet. She could had also had children with a human child unborn at the time of the landing on Second Earth perhaps within five years to ten years of her age. It is possible that other hybrid children could had been born after the landing given that the Sixes and Eights joined the humans. And it is possible that pure Cylon children could had been born to the age compatible Sixes, Eights and Leobens but as noted in the series it is difficult if not impossible for a pure Cylon child to come to term. Hera's offspring is most likely with a human or a more remote possibility another Cylon-human hybrid. Her breeding with a pure Cylon offspring is the least likely.
* Was it coincidence or divine intervention that an asteroid caused Racetrack's hand to hit the launch button for the nuclear weapons at the exact right moment?

== Official Statements ==

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
"Silly me.... silly, silly me."<br/>
--Virtual Baltar in the last line of the series.

"Frak!"<br/>
--Cavil's last word before he blows his brains out.

"Can we ''not'' tell her the plan?"<br/>
"Right." (Athena kills Boomer)<br/>
--Starbuck and Athena about Boomer before Athena kills her.

"There must be some way out of here."<br/>
--Starbuck attempting to figure out the jump coordinates.

== Guest Stars ==

== References ==

<div style="font-size: 85%;"><references /></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

Daybreak, Part I

2009-03-16T07:09:04Z

Ginsengaddict: /* Flashbacks */

{{Episode Data
| image=FirstDaybreak.jpg
| title=Daybreak, Part I
| season= 4
| episode=19
| guests=
| writer= [[Ronald D. Moore]]
| story=
| director= [[Michael Rymer]]
| production=421
| rating=
| US airdate=March 13, 2009 <ref>http://tv.ign.com/articles/920/920164p1.html</ref>
| CAN airdate=Early 2009
| UK airdate=Early 2009
| dvd=
| population=39516
| oldpopulation=39521
| prev=[[Islanded In a Stream of Stars ]]
| next=[[Daybreak, Part II]]
| forumthread= 2994
}}

== Overview ==
''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' begins to be stripped of parts, and [[William Adama|Adama]] calls for volunteers for a final mission.<ref>http://video.scifi.com/player/?id=1054906</ref>

== Summary ==

=== Act 1 ===
'''In Caprica City'''
*The Act opens with a montage, including a galaxy, a bird trapped in a skylight, water falling into a pool, and light over a planet. A shot of a city can be seen, with the words "Caprica City - Before the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Fall]]".
*[[William_Adama|Bill Adama]] is conversing with another gentleman in a shaded room. Adama talks about his combat experience, commanding billions of cubits of men and materials, but doesn't want to go through with something. The man responds that he's only asking for one hour of his time, and that "sometimes there are things that you gotta do."
*Across the city, Dr. [[Gaius Baltar]] is speaking with [[Caprica-Six]] in a limo, talking briefly about having things done for you as opposed to being independent. Baltar and Caprica-Six begin fooling around in the limo, when a call comes through. Baltar is immediately shaken, he apologizes, and asks the other person to wait for him. The other person sounds ready to leave, but Baltar tells the person on the other end to wait for him, or he will sue them for abandonment.
*[[Laura Roslin]] is sending out the last guest from a baby shower she hosted for her sister. Laura and her two younger sisters then sit on the couch, celebrating and laughing together.
*In an apartment kitchen, [[Kara Thrace]] is contemplating something and preparing food when the doorbell rings. Kara is surprised, saying they're early, and greets [[Lee Adama]] at the door, carrying flowers. Kara invites him in, and calls for Zak. [[Zak Adama]] comes out and greets his brother, and introduces Kara as his girlfriend.
*Baltar pleads with Nurse Barbara to stay with his father [[Julius Baltar|Julius]] at his apartment, after she is stabbed with a steak knife, but she refuses and leaves. Caprica-Six walks in, despite Baltar's instructions to stay in the car. Baltar starts berating his father over the fact that he's driven away three nurses, at great cost to him, while his father starts talking about Baltar's past. Baltar starts yelling and hitting his father, demanding that he shut up. Baltar then sends Caprica-Six away, saying he will be spending the rest of the evening with his father.
*Laura Roslin is approached by two Caprica City Police officers at her apartment. The two inform her that last night her father and her sisters have died, sideswiped in a car accident. The other driver survived, and had been intoxicated. Roslin, upset but calm asks the officers to leave. Still in her pajamas, she walks to a nearby fountain, and rests on a nearby rock, letting the fountain wash over her. The drops of water falling into the pond match what was seen in the earlier montage.

'''Aboard [[Galactica|''Galactica'']]'''
*The scene cuts to an IV drip, overlooking Laura Roslin resting in Sickbay.
*In the Hangar Bay, Lee Adama is complaining about the amount of materials the ship captains want from Galactica. Lee is signing a number of documents, when a deckhand argues over the fact that the magnetic accelerators are being stripped. While Lee points out that they can be used as autoloaders for the civilian ships, the deckhand says that "it's like tearing the old girl's heart out", as it's used in launching Vipers. Lee compromises that the accelerators will be last thing they remove from Galactica, then they'll "turn out the lights, and let the old girl die in peace."

=== Act 2 ===
'''Aboard [[Galactica|''Galactica'']]'''
*The act opens with [[William_Adama|Admiral Adama]] finished packing the last of his belongings into boxes to be moved to the Cylon Basestar. As the last of his belongings is closed, the rattling of the hull can be heard overhead.
*Paulla tells [[Gaius_Baltar|Baltar]] that they now control a majority in at least half the ships in the fleet. While Paulla continues to cheer about their political power, Baltar looks up to see [[Virtual_Six|Virtual Six]]. Six points out that "humanity's final chapter is about to be written," with him as the author. Baltar turns back to Paulla, thinking back.
*In [[Sam_Anders|Anders']] room, [[Kara_Thrace|Kara]] sits with him, contemplating the notes she got from Hera ([[Someone_to_Watch_Over_Me|Someone to Watch Over Me]]). With equations and notes, Kara continues to ponder.
*In the CIC, Lt. Hoshi is cleaning up a spill, while Tigh is announcing that the Admiral will fly out the last Viper personally. He orders that the deck gang keep one launch tube intact and ready for remote activation. Tigh comments on Hoshi's inability to clean up the spill, saying "you won't make Admiral like that."
*In the Brig, Helo and an imprisoned Tyrol argue over the uniqueness of the Eights. Helo points out that Tyrol's relationship with Boomer, much like his with Athena's, are unique. Tyrol scoffs, calling himself a "frakkin' idiot" for not realizing that they're just machines, not people. The Eights are all the same because "the [[Final_Five|[Final Five]]] made them the same." Tyrol says that they can't be trusted, at which point, Helo ends the conversation abruptly.

'''In Caprica City'''
*As Baltar escorts a lovely young woman into his house, he walks in to find Caprica-Six there, sitting. Baltar shoos the young woman upstairs, while Baltar declares Caprica an intruder and orders her out. Caprica-Six mentions that she had Julius moved to the Regency, a full-time care facility. Caprica mentions that he loves his new arrangements, and that the last time she saw him, he seemed happy.

'''Inside the Colony'''
*Hera is drawing notes on a large paper, while Cavil points out that they're just "little dots." Simon suggests that they feed Hera through tubes, while Boomer insists that she's just missing her mother. Cavil rejects this idea coldly, saying Hera is just a hybrid who holds the key to Cylon salvation, nothing more. Cavil leaves as Simon prepares a large need with Hera and Boomer in view.

=== Act 3 ===

=== Act 4 ===

== Notes ==

* This episode is the first part of a three hour series finale<ref>http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2008/06/battlestars-fin.html</ref>.
* The episode does not have an opening teaser beyond the "Previously..." segment and a brief depiction of Galactica deckhands and several Baseship Number Eight pilots guiding passengers to ships and other ''Galactica'' bound ships from the Baseship. Nor does the opening credits include clips from the episode, the first time this has happened since the start of Season 3.
*We finally learn [[Sherman Cottle|Cottle]]'s first name: Sherman. Adama calls him by it when telling him he's too valuable for the fleet to lose.
* It is revealed that [[Laura Roslin]] had two sisters (one pregnant), and that they and her father were killed in an automobile accident at some point before she was appointed as Secretary of Education under the Adar Administration.
* Baltar's father appears for the first time, and it's confirmed that Baltar's accent is an affected one as Baltar had previously admitted to doing so in [[Dirty Hands]].
* Baltar specifically told [[Caprica Six]] he forgot her name, albeit it is possible that he has yet to learn it, despite having a relationship with her.
* Cultural oddity: keep an eye on the rear window of Baltar's limo for a recognizable Vancouver, B.C. street sign.
* After several episodes leaving the facts open to speculation, it is confirmed that the ''Galactica'' pilots that took part in the mutiny, such as [[Racetrack]], were incarcerated and not executed. Ronald D. Moore had previously said that Racetrack, [[Skulls]] and other mutiny participants were confined on the prison ship ''[[Astral Queen]]'' in his podcast for [[Deadlock]]. Also confirmed [[Galen Tyrol]] was imprisoned for his role in unwittingly helping Boomer to escape with Hera (a scene indicating this was filmed for "[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]" but cut from the televised version).
* For the first time in many episodes, the six surviving members of the [[Significant Seven]] appear in the same episode (albeit [[Leoben]] appears only in the opening recap). This was the first time we have seen A [[Doral]] or a [[Simon]] since [[The Hub]].
* In the flashback to Starbuck's apartment, the painting of the Eye of Jupiter can be seen behind her when she opens the door.
*As Hybrid Anders is reciting his seemingly random phrases to a listening Admiral Adama and Captain Thrace he says "Slip the surly bonds of Earth and touch the face of perfection" This is a variation of a real life quote made by [[Wikipedia:John Gillespie Magee, Jr|John Gillespie Magee, Jr.]] in his 1941 poem [[Wikipedia: High Flight|High Flight]]: "Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings..." [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/highflig.htm] The poem goes on and concludes with "Put out my hand and touched the face of God." This was quoted by Ronald Reagan much closer to Ander's rendition on January 28, 1986 when addressing the nation after the Challenger disaster "We will never forget them this morning as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God."
*At the end of the episode, Lee Adama can be seen wearing his old Major's [[Uniforms (RDM)#Regular uniform|uniform]] (with white piping), but without his [[Military Ranks (RDM)#Insignia|rank insignia]] or [[Insignia (RDM)#Pilot wings|pilot wings]].

== Analysis ==
*Cavil plans to use Hera to find out how she was created in order to continue the Cylon species, presumably through normal reproduction.
**It also proves Cavil intends to dissect Hera to discover the secret of procreation, confirming both Starbuck's and Athena's worst fears.
*Roslin likely feels quite protective of Hera as despite being barely able to walk, she volunteers for the rescue mission (although her love for Adama likely also played a part in her decision).
*Cottle may be either the best doctor in the fleet or one of the only ones as Adama says he's too valuable for the fleet to lose on the rescue mission.
*Baltar seems conflicted when volunteers are called. This inner conflict stems from his earlier conversation with Lee Adama where he confessed that he had never done anything for purely selfless motivations with no gain for himself. He does not, however, cross the line and join the volunteers.
** If Baltar does join, then it would seem likely that all the elements are in place to fulfil the Opera House vision: Athena, Roslin, Caprica Six and Baltar will all be in pursuit of Hera.
*Much of the crew is loyal enough to Adama that they're willing to go on a likely one way mission to rescue someone just because he asked.
*In the brig Tyrol tells Helo-who is surprisingly civil even sympathetic toward Tyrol given his hand in the abduction-that they are all the same referring to the Eights. He says it as a word of advice and warning. That he made them the same and therefore can only expect betrayal from Athena as what happened to Tyrol at the hands of Boomer. However, given the fact that he has no first hand knowledge of making the Eights and the other Cylons and the psychic pain Galen suffered at the betrayal, his opinion most likely comes from deep, deep, abiding pain and not a intellectual analysis in his disregard of the individuality of Athena and the other Eights and particularly Athena's track record of loyalty. This also maybe a case of misery loves company and Tyrol wants to see Helo and Athena split up to allay his own feelings of being duped, by saying they are all a like and putting doubt in Helo's mind. Also, by claiming that Athena and the other Eights are just machines this could mitigate the guilt for his role in the abduction and possible death of Hera. If Athena is just a machine, then she cannot be hurt emotionally. She has no emotions, just a programmed facsimile. Tyrol wouldn't have to feel responsible for such pain he caused her since, as a machine, she can't really feel it sparing himself a lot of pain.
*Tyrol is himself a Cylon machine, so his rant speaks of denial and projected self-hatred as well as bitterness.
*The finale appears to be taking a character-driven approach, devoting significant screen time to pivotal flashbacks for the central characters that relate to their current circumstances.
**We see the first time Starbuck and Apollo' met, with hints alluding to their future romantic relationship.
**Roslin deals with the sudden death of her sisters and father by wading into a fountain. The gushing water cuts to a shot of her IV drip as she lies dying on Galactica.
**Baltar and Caprica six begin their relationship with an act of compassion on Six's part towards Baltar's father. Baltar's selfishness, a theme raised repeatedly in the episode, is contrasted with Caprica Six's seemingly genuine concern for [[Julius Baltar|Julius]].
*One of the shots in the opening sequence is of a sun rising over a blue planet: daybreak. The theme may symbolize an end to the fleet's long four years of gloom and darkness.
**In that image of the planet, Antarctica is clearly seen, specifically the Ronne Ice Shelf, Queen Maud Land, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Where southern South America and southern Africa would be, the surface is covered by clouds, and the location of southern Australia/New Zealand is too dark. Although not as recognizable as the image of North America in [[Crossroads, Part II]], it is clear that the planet shown here is our Earth.
*Hera is drawing "dots", as Cavil calls them, on the Colony. These are much more numerous than the simple line that she gave Starbuck, its at least a full page long. It seems to be an entire musical score. However, not knowing that they are music notes, Cavil doesn't see this.
*Someone left a picture of Athena about to kiss Hera on the head on the now abandoned memorial wall. It may have been Athena herself, who has given up on Hera's survival.
* Baltar's reaction to Lee's accusation that he has never done a selfless thing in his life shows how much the character of Baltar has grown, especially in the Fourth Season. Previously, whenever someone called Baltar's motives or attributes(especially his loyalty) into question, he reacted very passionately, and angrily, to defend himself(and often led to him being coaxed into doing what Virtual Six wanted, to the detriment of the humans in the fleet). On this occasion, however, Baltar not only does not even attempt to defend himself, he resignedly admits that he wouldn't trust him either(tacitly admitting both that Lee is correct in his assertion and that his self-serving actions have been extremely detrimental in the past). This change in attitude visibly surprises Lee who seems quite taken aback and appears to momentarily contemplate talking to Baltar again when he returns to the Hanger Deck.

== Questions ==
=== Flashbacks ===
* To what is Adama's flashback conversation referring?
* Who was the drunk driver that killed Roslin's sisters and father? Is he alive in the fleet today?
** Was the driver Lee Adama? Was his drunken tirade upon returning home just after the accident?
* Who is Sean Allison and why does his name sound familiar to Roslin?
* What is the time frame for the flashbacks, and is it the same for all characters?
** Since [[Zak Adama]] is still alive, the Starbuck/Zak/Apollo flashbacks must be 2 years or more before the Cylon attack on the 12 Colonies.
** Baltar and [[Caprica Six]] began their relationship just under two years prior to the Cylon attack<ref>In the Miniseries, Head Six taunts Baltar by suggesting he say "Oh, I forgot to mention I'm familiar with their technology because I've been having sex with a Cylon for almost two years now."</ref>, putting these scenes somewhat later.

===Mission to save Hera===
* How is [[Sam Anders]] able to provide the new location of [[the Colony]]? What transpired between him, Starbuck, and Adama?
* Did any of the other former mutineers, besides [[Racetrack]] and [[Skulls]], volunteer to participate in the mission?
* As the episode began, ''Galactica'' was already being cannibalized for parts; does this mean it will be lacking vital components during the upcoming mission, or has Adama stopped the salvaging?
**It is very doubtful that Adama would send Galactica in harms way if she weren't adequately equipped for the mission he has in mind.
***However, this likely will be a one-way mission for ''Galactica'', just as it is for the volunteers, as Adama has already stated his intention to "send the old girl off in style." Further, Adama is willing to use a group of Raptors for the mission and leave "Galactica" behind entirely, if there isn't an adequate crew. These facts suggest that "Galactica" will not retain components that Adama is not willing to abandon or have destroyed.

===Cavil's Plan===
* Has Cavil given up on the idea of salvaging Resurrection Technology?

===Miscellaneous===
*With [[William_Adama|Commander Adama]], [[Saul_Tigh|XO Tigh]], [[Laura_Roslin|President Roslin]] and [[Lee_Adama|Vice-President Lee Adama]] all joining the Hera rescue mission, who will assume military and political leadership of the Fleet?
**Is this the reason why Baltar hesitates to volunteer for the mission?
***His unwillingness for self sacrifice absent personal gain, as Lee Adama charged.
**Will Baltar or another representative of "his people" step into this power vacuum, despite Lee's refusal to grant them a place on the Quorum (prior to the Admiral's announcement regarding the rescue mission)?
*Does the Admiral's offer to any over the age of 15 mean that 15 is considered legal age under colonial law?
**Could this also mean a now "adult" [[Boxey (RDM)|Boxey]] will take part in the mission?
**Boxey has been dropped as a character but he would had been 17 years old by now so yes he could had gone.
* With Hotdog being one of the volunteers, and especially being aware that he may not return alive, who will take care of Nicholas?

== Official Statements ==

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
:"No one should feel obligated to join this mission in any way. This is a decision I have made for myself. If it turns out that there are not enough personnel to crew [[Galactica|''Galactica'']], I will lead a [[Raptor]] assault with anyone who is willing to join me. Let there be no illusions; this is likely to be a one-way trip! So don't volunteer out of sentiment or emotion. There is a line running down this deck. Volunteers, move to the starboard side; Everyone else, to the port. Make your choice!"
::--[[William_Adama|Admiral Adama's]] speech to the assembled crew.

:"You didn't think you were gonna to take off without me, did you?"
::--[[Laura Roslin]] volunteering for the rescue mission despite barely being able to walk.

:"Spins and turns, angles and curves. The shape of dreams, half remembered. Slip the surly bonds of earth and touch the face of perfection - a perfect face, perfect lace. Find the perfect world for the end of Kara Thrace. End of line."
::--[[Samuel Anders|Anders]]'s hybrid-speak when powered on to speak with [[Kara Thrace]] and [[William_Adama|Admiral Adama]].

:"She’s right, Gaius. The end times are approaching. Humanity’s final chapters are about to be written. And you - you will be its author."
::--[[Virtual Six]] to [[Gaius Baltar]].

== Guest Stars ==
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
* [[Dean Stockwell]] as [[Number One]]
* [[Rick Worthy]] as [[Number Four]]
* [[Matthew Bennett]] as [[Number Five]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Dr. [[Sherman Cottle]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brenden "Hotdog" Costanza]]
* [[Kerry Norton]] as [[Layne Ishay]]
* [[Lara Gilchrist]] as [[Paulla Schaffer]]
* [[Leela Savasta]] as [[Tracy Anne]]
* [[Tobias Mehler]] as [[Zak Adama]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
* [[Colin Lawrence]] as Lieutenant [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]
* [[Colin Corrigan]] as Marine [[Allan Nowart]]
* [[Darcy Laurie]] as [[Dealino]]
* [[Finn R. Devitt]] as [[Nicholas Tyrol]]
* [[Iliana Gomez-Martinez]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Antony Holland]] as [[Julius Baltar]]
* [[Simone Bailly]] as [[Shona]]
* [[Elan Ross Gibson]] as Nurse [[Barbara]]
* [[France Perras]] as [[Sandra]]
* [[Sarah Deakins]] as [[Cheryl]]
* [[Tiffany Burns]] as Reporter [[Carolyn]]
* [[Kevin McNulty]] as [[Frank Porthos]]
* [[Stefanie Samuels]] as Police Officer
* [[Richard Jollymore]] as Marine #1
* [[Anthony St. John]] as Marine #2
* [[Leo Li Chiang]] as the [[tattooed pilot]] (uncredited)

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Ronald D. Moore]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Rymer]]

Islanded in a Stream of Stars

2009-03-09T23:09:17Z

Ginsengaddict: /* Questions */

{{Episode Data
| image=IslandintheStars.jpg
| title=Islanded In a Stream of Stars
| season= 4
| episode=18
| guests=
| writer= [[Michael Taylor]]
| story=
| director= [[Edward James Olmos]]
| production=420
| rating=
| US airdate=March 6, 2009 <ref>http://tv.ign.com/articles/920/920164p1.html</ref>
| CAN airdate=March 6, 2009
| UK airdate=March 10, 2009
| dvd=
| population=39521
| oldpopulation=39556
| prev=[[Someone to Watch Over Me]]
| next=[[Daybreak, Part I]]
}}

== Overview ==
As ''Galactica'''s condition continues to get worse, [[William Adama|Adama]] is faced with the possibility of abandoning ship. In the meantime, [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]] winds up forming an unexpected bond with [[Hera Agathon|Hera]] and [[Gaius Baltar]] learns a surprising truth about [[Kara Thrace]]

==Summary==

===Teaser===
* With [[Sharon Valerii]]'s kidnapping of [[Hera Agathon]] and her escape, the spatial disruption caused by the close-proximity [[FTL|jump]] of her [[Raptor]] causes an immense breech in the port side of the alligator's head of ''[[Galactica]]''
* A [[projection]] of little Hera in [[CIC]]. She sits atop the command and control console with models of ''Galactica'', three [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Cylon Raiders]] and a [[Basestar (RDM)|baseship]]. She moves the ''Galactica'' model in to collide with the baseship as the projection transitions to show the actual ''Galactica'' and her [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]].
* Inside, crew of all kinds, both from the allied Cylons and Colonials, are trying to seal the breech. Tempers are high: a [[Number Six]] and another human crew member argue. Eventually a [[Number Eight]] comes to break the two up.

* In Admiral [[William Adama|Adama's]] quarters, [[Ellen Tigh]] speaks about Hera's abduction as [[Lee Adama]], [[Kara Thrace]] and [[Saul Tigh]] listen. Ellen believes that [[Cavil]] will take Hera to the [[Cylon homeworld]] for study, to determine how Cylon procreation is possible. Saul completes Ellen's thought by saying that she knows the Cylon colony's location.
* While Lee Adama objects to the disproportionate risk in retrieving Hera, not only does Ellen indicate that the child is important for the survival of all the Cylons, but Thrace tells Lee that Hera is vital to the human's survival as well.
* She explains how Hera wrote some [[The Music|music]]--notes that Thrace's father wrote--the same song that switched on the [[Final Five]] and led them all to [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]].
* But the admiral is "had it up to here" with prophesies and destinies. He doesn't want to endanger what's left of his people.
* When Saul convinces Adama to at least check out the colony, Adama permits a [[Heavy Raider]] to go, preferring that the Agathon's not know.

* In the Agathon's quarters, [[Sharon Agathon|Sharon]] is breaking down, as her [[Kara Agathon|husband]] tries to get her to talk and vent her feelings.

* [[Laura Roslin]], now in sickbay and noticeably weakened, experiences the [[Opera House]] dream of Hera running through it, eventually being picked up by a Number Six and [[Gaius Baltar]]. She wakes to find the admiral at her side, and tells him of the dream.

* A seam on the battlestar's hull fractures with cataclysmic results. Dozens of people, both Cylon and human, are trapped inside, the rushing air and falling pressure sealing their fate.
* The Six and human male that argued earlier are closest to a bulkhead door. With all her strength, she pushes the Colonial in front and to the door's edge as two other Colonials pull him in. She screams to close the door behind her and lock it.
* As the door is sealed, the Six loses her grip and is blown out into space.

==Episode summary==

Lee Adama struggles to convince the newly-elected Fleet Quorum that ''Galactica'' can be saved, but many councilors are worried about becoming dependent on the Cylons for military protection. Once the Galactica meets its inevitable demise, the basestar will be the logical choice for the new flagship. [[Number Six#Sonja|Sonja]] assures them that the Cylons will continue to respect William Adama's military authority when he transfers to the Basestar, along with the rest of Galactica's crew and their planes and munitions. Other representatives begin calling first dibs on certain parts of ''Galactica'', which will of course be stripped once its time is up. Laura Roslin's cancer is killing her, and she is now confined to bed in the ship's hospital. She gradually convinces Admiral Adama that he has to abandon Galactica and move everyone over to the Cylon Basestar. Ellen Tigh tries to convince Colonel Saul Tigh that Roslin is right, but he refuses: The decision is Adm. Adama's alone.

Karl Agathon's marriage to Sharon Valerii is falling apart, as she cannot overcome the loss of her child, Hera, or the knowledge that her husband had sexual intercourse with the Number Eight known as "Boomer". Trying to save his marriage, Helo tries to get Adm. Adama to approve the launching of a Raptor to find Hera. Adama has already permitted Sonja, the Cylon representative on the new Quorum, to secretly take a Heavy Raider to the Cylon homeworld, known as "[[the Colony]]". The Colony though has already been moved to a new location by Cavil prior to the [[Cylon Civil War]]; sending Helo out in a Raptor to look for it would be a suicide mission. Adama finally refuses to give permission, to which Helo appears devastated.

Gaius Baltar continues his religious broadcasts to the Fleet, and his latest message focuses on angels walking among humanity. Baltar encounters Caprica Six, who rejects his romantic overtures. She tells him she's changed and that he has not. Baltar breaks down over the loss of his former lover. Later, Kara Thrace meets Baltar while they are both in the ship's head. Kara tells him that she died on Earth, and discovered her own body there. She gives him her dog tag to analyze. He scrapes blood from the dog tag, and finds it came from a body which was already dead. When the ''Galactica'' crew, Cylons, and Baltar's believers meet on ''Galactica'''s flight deck to bury those who died in the hull breach, Baltar reveals what he discovered about Starbuck and calls her an angel. He preaches about eternal life, but Starbuck slaps him and the service breaks up. Later, Apollo meets with Starbuck and offers her his unconditional love and support. They part as friends. Starbuck puts a photo of herself on the memorial wall of the dead.

Aboard the stolen Raptor, Hera keeps crying for her mother, infuriating Boomer. Boomer almost sedates the child, but cannot bring herself to do so; they keep jumping toward their destination. In an attempt to calm Hera, Boomer reveals her "Cylon projection" dreamworld to Hera. Hera can see the world, too, and bonds with Boomer. Boomer begins to develop strong emotional ties to the child. When the two arrive at the "colony", a Cylon base on top of a small, rocky planetoid, Cavil takes Hera from Boomer and declares that soon she will have many playmates. The child weeps and calls out for Boomer, and Boomer also sheds copious tears unwilling to part from Hera.

After an emotional breakdown, Adm. Adama realizes the ship must be abandoned. He meets with Col. Tigh, who initially resists the evacuation order but gives in after a brief discussion. All civilians are to be removed over the next few days, arrangements are to be made to put the military personnel aboard the basestar, and ''Galactica'' is to be stripped for parts. Rather than let the ship break down, Adama intends to "send her off in style."

A Number Eight and Number Six have hooked [[Samuel Anders]] up to a [[Hybrid]] tank in a an attempt to help his brain reboot, but there is no apparent change. Kara Thrace goes to Anders' bedside alone, and decides to kill him rather than let him live in a vegetative state. But as she aims a gun at his head, Anders comes awake. He babbles like a Hybrid, but his ravings also indicate that he's aware of the threat to his life. With one hand, he subdues Starbuck and she drops the pistol. Anders continues to babble, but some of his rants indicate that he is reintegrating, perhaps even repairing, his mind. ''Galactica'''s power and temperature fluctuations were because Anders was connecting to the ship, as the Hybrid tank and the Cylon polymer used to repair the battlestar are giving him the power to interact with the ship's computers. Tigh deems this too dangerous to continue, as Anders might jump the ship. Anders is disconnected from the Hybrid tank, and he falls into a coma again.

A few days later, Starbuck meets with the comatose Anders. She brings Hera's drawing of the song (the song which helped awaken the Final Five in the episode "Crossroads", and about which further complications were revealed in the episode prior to this one, "Someone to Watch Over Me"), and states assertively, that together, they will discover what is going on. She reconnects him to the ship's power systems. He awakens again, and begins speaking in the kind of a hybrid.

== Notes ==

* The title comes from the book ''[[w:The Outermost House|The Outermost House]]'', by [[w:Henry Beston|Henry Beston]], where he chronicles his time spent living on an isolated beach in Cape Cod. In the chapter "Night on the Great Beach" he wrote, "For a moment of night we have a glimpse of ourselves and of our world ''islanded in its stream of stars''— pilgrims of mortality, voyaging between horizons across eternal seas of space and time."

* Two original Cylon Raiders can be seen inside the Colony.

* [[Ellen Tigh]] leads the Cylons in performing the [[Prayer to the Cloud of Unknowing]] at the service.

* Among the "random" phrases hybrid-Anders spouts are the lyrics of the Earth folk song "There's a Hole in My Bucket".

* The Six that gives her life to save that of a ''Galactica'' crewmember is yet another example of a Six with a unique personality, this time one closer in tone to the "working-class" attitude exhibited by ''Galactica's'' human maintenance crew (aka the "knuckle-draggers").

== Analysis ==
*When [[Caprica-Six]] was at [[Gaius Baltar|Baltar's]] congregation and he spoke to her about hearing about her living arrangement and offered a place to stay. From this it seems after the in utero death of [[Liam|Liam Tigh]], [[Saul Tigh]] and Caprica Six have broken up as a couple. As a side effect, Col. Tigh has reverted to his "us" and "them" attitude toward Cylons as a whole despite himself and his wife being Cylons including an increase of anti Cylon "racial" slurs.

*[[Chief Tyrol]] was no where to be seen in this episode. Even crewman [[Dealino]] gives a report to both [[Admiral Adama]] and [[Saul Tigh|Colonel Tigh]] of what the attitudes of the Cylons, particularly the [[Leoben]]s, thought as to how many jumps ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' had left in her. [[Bear McCreary]] reveals<ref>http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=1671</ref> there is an extended scene on the DVD which shows Chief Tyrol is being held in ''Galactica'''s brig for his part in [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer's]] escape.

*[[Hera Agathon|Hera]] has the power of [[projection]], which she demonstrated at the beginning of the episode playing in a projection of CIC on top of the tactical light table with the ship miniatures including a model of [[Galactica]] which she pushed, a [[Basestar (RDM)|Cylon baseship]] and three [[Raider (RDM)|Cylon Raiders]]. It is not known if Hera was ever in CIC but [[Sharon Agathon|her mother]] has been. This indicates strongly that Hera and [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] have been sharing projections for months probably years, conceivably since birth. Also included in the projection was the embers of welding torches, structural repairs are also going on in ''Galactica'''s corridors and Hera almost certainly saw them. She very likely thought they were pretty and incorporated it into her projection.
**Hera's projection may be prophetic in nature. She pushes the model of ''Galactica'' into a model of a basestar, which could hint at an eventual confrontation between ''Galactica'' and the Cylons, and quite possibly the destruction of ''Galactica''. The [[Pegasus (RDM)|battlestar ''Pegasus'']] was destroyed in a similar fashion by ramming a basestar.
*In sickbay, Adama and Roslin reminces about New Caprica and about the cabin they wanted to build but can't. This scene is in its own way similar to the scene in which Boomer and Tyrol shared a projection of the house they had intended to build on Picon. As humans, Adama and Roslin can only conjure up fond memories and regrets in their own mind's eyes. Both couples know that it is never to be, building their dream houses.

*Helo wanted Athena to say that she hated him because he saw it in her eyes. She almost did. In a close up of her lips her mouth parted slightly but then closed. This is most likely for him sleeping with Boomer, who subsequently took Hera. Athena probably understands that Helo couldn't prevent the kidnapping but she probably feels that he should had known that it was not Athena he was sleeping with. It is however conceivable she could blame him for the taking of Hera if she thinks that if he realized that it wasn't her he could had had Boomer captured even before she got near Hera.

== Questions ==
* What does Cavil mean when he tells Hera that she will soon have new playmates?
* Will ''Galactica'' be stripped after all?
* How conscious is Anders?
* Anders recites the lyrics to the real-world folk song "There's Hole in My Bucket". Along with the earlier uses of "All Along the Watchtower" and other real-life literature and poem references, is there a significance to this?
* Can the Colony be found by ''Galactica'''s scout ships?
* How can Baltar tell that Starbuck's blood came from a dead body? ''Baltar explains how in dialogue; forensic science can tell the difference between a post-mortem blood sample and one taken from a living creature.''
** A corpse produces "death enzymes" as it decomposes. Its likely Baltar found high concentrations of these enzymes on the dogtags.
* Is the planet that Boomer jumps in front of Jupiter? The color patterns are similar, the rocky moon could be Ganymede or Callisto, and there is a hint of the Great Red Spot at the lower left.
* Might Boomer defect from Cavil because of her new attachment to Hera?
* Does the presence of First Cylon War-era Cylon Raiders at the Colony indicate the presence of older-model [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005|Cylon Centurions]], too?
* Does Cavil intend to pursue biological reproduction, recreate the resurrection process, or both?
* Do the Eights consider the rest of the Final Five their parents? Do other models also regard some or all of the Final Five as parental figures?
* When the dying Number Eight refers to Tigh as her father, is she simply referring to him as being the father of her kind, or is she being literal and giving a clue as to the origin of the Number Eight model (just as [[Cavil]] is established to be based upon Ellen's father)?

== Official Statements ==

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
* ''[[Saul Tigh|Colonel Tigh]] fulfills a request to comfort to a dying [[Number Eight]]:''
:'''Number Eight:''' Thank you.
:'''Tigh:''' Thank me? For what?
:'''Number Eight:''' For the privilege of finally being able to meet my father before I die.
:'''Tigh:''' You shouldn't be thanking me. I spent most of my life trying to kill your kind.
:'''Number Eight:''' [[The Music|There's too much confusion]].
:''(The Eight flatlines)''

* ''[[Bill Adama]] is talking with Kara Thrace about looking for Hera:''
: '''Adama:''' In other words, it's our destiny to go after her, right?
: '''Thrace:''' (facial expressions and body language indicates "yes")
: '''Adama:''' Wrong. I've had it up to here with destiny, prophecy, with God or the Gods. Look where it's left us. The ass end of nowhere; nearly half of our people are gone; Earth, a worthless cinder; and I can't even walk down the halls of my ship without wondering if I'm gonna catch a bullet for getting us into this mess.

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Dr. [[S. Cottle]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]<ref>[http://www.buddytv.com/articles/battlestar-galactica/exclusive-interview-rekha-shar-20017.aspx Exclusive Interview: Rekha Sharma of 'Battlestar Galactica' - BuddyTV]</ref>
* [[Iliana Gomez-Martinez]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Dean Stockwell]] as [[Number One]]
*[[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brenden "Hotdog" Constanza]]
* [[David Patrick Green]] as Captain [[Xeno Fenner]]
* [[Kerry Norton]] as [[Layne Ishay]]
* [[Lara Gilchrist]] as [[Paulla Schaffer]]
* [[Leela Savasta]] as [[Tracy Anne]]
* [[Darcy Laurie]] as [[Dealino]]
* [[Susan Hogan]] Captain [[Doyle Franks]]
* [[William Samples]] as Captain [[Jules Tarney]]

== References ==

<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}
[[Category:Episodes written by Michael Taylor]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Edward James Olmos]]

Someone to Watch Over Me

2009-03-07T12:04:47Z

Ginsengaddict: /* The status of Cylons in the Fleet */

{{Episode Data
| image=SomeoneWatchingOverMe.jpg
| title= Someone To Watch Over Me
| season= 4
| episode=17
| guests=
| writer= [[Bradley Thompson]] <br/> [[David Weddle]]
| story=
| director= [[Michael Nankin]]
| production=419
| rating=1,657,000 viewers (Live+SD)<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/03/03/wwe-raw-the-closer-and-president-obama-lead-cable-viewing/13835|title=WWE RAW, The Closer and President Obama lead cable viewing|date=03 March 2009|accessdate=04 March 2009|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
| US airdate=February 27, 2009
| CAN airdate=February 27, 2009
| UK airdate=March 3, 2009
| dvd=
| population=39556
| oldpopulation=39556
| prev=[[Deadlock]]
| next=[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]
}}

== Overview ==
:''[[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] discovers a hidden musical ability that bears a mysterious significance to the final five Cylons, and her tune is found to have a connection with three-year-old human-Cylon hybrid [[Hera Agathon|Hera]]. The president authorizes [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]]'s extradition from the brig so she can stand trial for treason on the Cylon baseship.''<ref>http://www.locatetv.com/tv/battlestar-galactica/season-4/6118356</ref>

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===
* [[Kara Thrace]] gets out of her bunk and opens her locker. Looking in the mirror, she momentarily sees the image of her own corpse found on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] in the reflection. Disturbed, Kara takes out the bloodstained dog tags recovered from the corpse and stares at them, silently brooding to herself.
* Kara goes through her daily routine - showering, dressing, giving the Cylon and Colonial pilots their assignments, doing paperwork, and drinking at the bar.
* [[The Fleet (RDM)|The Fleet]] is still searching for a habitable planet. ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' is now experiencing frequent power losses and plumbing disruptions due to the ongoing repair work.
* [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] informs [[Admiral Adama]], [[Lee Adama]], and [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]] that the repairs and the Cylon organic substance will buy the ship a few more jumps, but not many. The admiral states that he isn't ready to give up just yet.
* Lee congratulates Sonja, a [[Number Six]] model, on her appointment as the Cylons' representative to the newly-formed Quorum of Ships' Captains.
* Sonja makes a formal request that Boomer be returned to the Cylons. When Adama starts to protest that Boomer tried to kill him, Sonja explains that they don't want Boomer set free. They want to try Boomer for treason, as she sided with [[Cavil]] in the [[Cylon Civil War]].
* When Lee asks what will happen to Boomer if she's convicted, Sonja says that with the loss of their ability to resurrect, the Cylons can now implement capital punishment.
* Tyrol realizes what this means: They're going to kill Boomer.

=== Act 1 ===

=== Act 2 ===

=== Act 3 ===

=== Act 4 ===

== Notes ==
* [[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Caprica-Six]] do not appear in this episode. As with the previous episode, [[Lee Adama]] appears in only a couple of scenes.
* "[[Wikipedia:Someone to Watch Over Me (song)|Someone To Watch Over Me]]" is the name of a song composed by [[Wikipedia:George Gershwin|George]] and [[Wikipedia:Ira Gershwin|Ira Gershwin]], and featured in the musical [[Wikipedia:Oh, Kay!|''Oh, Kay!'']] A major theme of the song is the need to find love and acceptance, something [[Sharon Valerii]], [[Galen Tyrol]] and [[Kara Thrace]] are all seeking in their own ways.
** There was also an episode of [[w:Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek: Voyager]] named for the song, in which it is performed at the end by The Doctor.
* Weeks have passed since the end of [[Gaeta's Mutiny|the mutiny]], as evidenced by [[Cottle]]'s comment about how long Anders' EKG readings have remained steady, and Starbuck's comment about how long she has repeated the same mission briefing.
* Starbuck acknowledges, in her address to the other pilots, that the mutiny has "thinned our numbers". This, combined with the apparent absence of pilots such as [[Margaret Edmonson]] and [[Diana Seelix]], confirms their involvement in the mutiny did not go unpunished, although exactly what that punishment is remains unknown.
** In the Podcast for "[[Deadlock]]" RDM states that all the mutineers were imprisoned on the [[Astral Queen]].
* After her apparent death in "[[Maelstrom]]", Kara's personal belongings were auctioned off. Helo has managed to get them all back for her. However, the only thing Kara is interested in is the tape of her father's music.
* Some of the music played by the mysterious piano player is from the original series. [[Numian's 3rd Sonata]], Second Movement, is in fact from the opening dialogue of the classic series ("There are those who believe that life here, began out there..."), and the original [[Cylon]] musical cue is derived from that tune as well. This is not the first time music from the original series has shown up (i.e. the [[Colonial Anthem]]), and lends to the idea that everything 'has happened before, and will happen again'.
* The brand of "[[The_Twelve_Colonies_%28RDM%29#Tauron|Tauron]] toothpaste" offered as a prize to the pilots is called "[[Felgercarb (RDM)|Felgercarb]]," a word used in the [[Original Series]] to mean "shit." Tauron comes from Taurus the bull. In essence, Kara is offering the pilot who finds a new planet "bullshittoothpaste".
* The collection of named [[Number Six]] models expands with the addition of [[Sonja]], who becomes the first Cylon to be elected to the Fleet's reconstituted Quorum.
*When Tyrol visits and talks to Boomer for the first time in the Brig, during the conversation Boomer calls Tyrol "Galen" for the first time, at least publicly and on screen. In past episodes, both Boomer and Athena usually referred to their significant others with their callsigns/titles. For Athena, it was always referring to Agathon as Helo. For Boomer, it was always referring to Tyrol as Chief. Athena was the first of the two to break that tradition, noticeable after the two married. Boomer's shared projection with Tyrol and their imaginary marriage may be the reason why she ceased calling him solely "Chief."

== Analysis ==
===Galactica's condition ===
*FTL jumps appear to create spatial distortions that can seriously strain a ships hull. Although bad hull damage does not necessarily prevent a ship from jumping (as has been seen many times before in the seasons, for example ''Pegasus'' - which jumped after being hit by three nuclear missiles in [[The Captain's Hand]]) the threat to ''Galactica'' has been compounded by the added riddling of the entire aged superstructure with microfractures. Tigh expresses concern that a jump within the flight pod will seriously strain the internal integrity of the ship. Boomer's FTL jump does eventually appear to cause a chain reaction of hull collapses along ''Galactica's'' port side, a side visibly weakened by Cylon attack, and suffering general aging in the 50+ year old ship's structure.
*The port side of ''Galactica'' which suffers damage in this episode has been seen specifically to suffer major stress before now- particularly during the [[Battle of New Caprica]] when it was mentioned that explosive decompressions were imminent in that section. That side of the ship also saw the port water tank blow out in [[Water]]-as well as damage from a nuclear explosion incurred during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]] though these seemed to be repaired it no doubt contributed to the area's hull fatigue.
* Many individuals express fears of the damage an FTL jump can do to ''Galactica'', implying FTL jumps place serious strains on a ships hull–or even the hull of a ship nearby and a degree of hull integrity is important to allow a ship to continue jumping for continued periods. This appears quite a new phenomenon in the canon of the show and was not mentioned in previous seasons, though it of course makes for a convenient plot conceit now. Before this ships have frequently been seen jumping and exiting a jump close to each other in the series with seemingly no ill effects- though it is possible Boomer's Raptor was much closer to Galactica's hull than has ever been seen before. In the episode [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]] the tylium ship jumped whilst surrounded by Raptors and Vipers and no ship seemed to suffer damage, although they were knocked back and sent tumbling. It should be made clear that smaller objects are proportionally stronger and that smaller objects should feel much less shear in the wash of another nearby ship jumping. It is also possible the stress of by being caught in the FTL field of another vessel rather than that caused by a vessels own, properly configured FTL drive is more powerful and dangerous.
*Given that ''Galactica'' has jumped hundreds of times whilst damaged before now, it is not explained why no damage has occurred before given it is assumed damage will be guaranteed by an unplanned jump in this episode. In the miniseries ''Galactica'' suffered a nuke hit and yet jumped several times later. Also despite falling through the atmosphere of New Caprica ''Galactica'' was able to execute an FTL jump despite the severe strains on the hull. Fears of FTL stress were not mentioned.
** ''Galactica'' has probably been taking damage over the years from multiple jumps and suffering combat damage. It's just that the extent of the damage has not become apparent until now.
** It is in part because of those actions, the atomic strikes and it jumping and falling though into a planet's gravity well and its atmosphere is why ''Galactic''a is suffering from massive metal fatigue, in addition to normal wear and tear of a 50+ year old ship and the fact that she hasn't had a major or even minor overhaul in years even before the the attack on the Colonies has taken their toll. In addition as discovered by Chief Tyrol the builders of ''Galactica'' "cut corners" with the building specifications of the ship. Ironically, if the ''Galactica'' was able to retire on schedule these issues of "substandard" construction wouldn't had come up.
** Further to the point above about small craft being subject to less 'shear', it stands to reason that the size of the disturbance created by a ship executing a jump might be proportional to the size of the ship itself. A large vessel such as the tylium ship may create a widespread but relatively smooth disturbance, so the nearby Raptors would have been like corks bobbing as a wave passed. Conversely, a small vessel such as a Raptor might create a localised but very sharp distortion that poses more risk of damage to a large ship close to it.
*The age of ''Galactica'''s FTL drive might explain why the ship's hull integrity is taxed so badly by her FTL drive - more modern drives might not cause so much stress, and might explain why other Fleet ships and the rebel basestar can continue to jump despite the damage their hulls have taken.
* ''Galactica'' is in very bad shape from the metal fatigue in the hull. It's so bad that Tyrol says that all the [[Cylon organic resin]] could do is buy a little more time, but not too much from the looks of it, and that the ship might only be capable of a few more FTL jumps, if that. The ship is dying of old age and abuse and there's nothing anyone can do save it completely. The damage Boomer created during her escape has no doubt worsened the ship's condition.

===The actions of Boomer===
* Adama has still not forgiven Boomer for shooting him.
* Ellen's escape from Cavil seems to have been orchestrated between him and Boomer in order to get Boomer on ''Galactica'' so she could kidnap Hera according to Ellen's speculation to her husband Saul Tigh.
* It would appear that while Cavil was willing to let Ellen go in order to obtain Hera, members of the [[Final Five]] are still of some value to him, as evidenced by Boomer's offer for Tyrol to go with her.
**It is more likely that Boomer genuinely wanted him to come with her because she truly loves him. Bringing him back to John Cavil-if that is where she is headed-would be of no use to him because as Ellen stated he would need all Five of the Finals to recreate Resurrection. In addition to her rekindled love, she has seen-or at least heard about-that it is possible for a Final Five Cylon to mate and have offspring with a "Standard Model" like herself even if Caprica-Six's pregnancy by Saul Tigh failed, so the possibility of a family which she shared with Tyrol in her projection, was open to her.
* Boomer has gone from being a conflicted sleeper agent to being a willing infiltrator and saboteur on ''Galactica''. With her rekindled love for Tyrol, she may be again conflicted.
* The Cylons want Boomer tried for treason, with execution being a possible outcome, because her actions are linked to the permanent deaths of thousands of Cylons when she sided against her model in the [[Cylon Civil War]]. This parallels the Colonial Fleet's own desire to try [[Gaius Baltar]] for siding against humanity and collaborating with the Cylons on New Caprica.

*It is very possible-but not certain-that the Cylon ability to recognize individual Cylons despite them looking exactly like each other (most of the time, the Sixes seem to have the most variants in hair color and use of makeup, both voluntary actions) relies on actually looking at the individual. In the lavatory where Sharon "Boomer" Valerii severely beats Sharon "Athena" Agathon, Athena initially mistook Boomer as a generic Eight when she saw her in the reflection of a mirror. It was after she stood up, turned around and looked directly at Boomer did Athena recognize her as Boomer. Admittedly however, it is possible that she would had recognized Boomer if she still only watched her in the reflection. Still, she said a full sentence while she looked at her in the mirror-"Great, I hope you are here to fix the frakkin' shower!"-but instantly recognized Boomer the exact moment she saw her directly and not reflected. Perhaps they also need to look the other Cylon square in the eyes, which is what Tyrol does in "[[Deadlock]]" before identifying Boomer.
**Helo did notice that Boomer did smell different. Boomer covered for this saying she found some soap.
***Helo said she smell good not different an she was washing her hands at the time. However there is a relevance to Helo mentioning her smell. In a scene from [[Litmus]] Tyrol and Boomer were in bed together shortly after engaging in intercourse. He said to her: "Sometimes at work I try to conjure up what your face looks like...Curve of your lips.....The way your hair falls. How you smell." Helo as just noted told Boomer she smelled good just before they had sex.
* Boomer has sex with [[Helo]] by pretending to be [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] after he mistook her for his wife and he insisted after she tried to leave, but then enthusiastically let him believe she was Athena and willingly had sex with him. This is ironic, as Athena originally seduced Helo on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]], by pretending to be Boomer.
** Boomer's willness to have sex with Agathon - in the presence of Athena - was motivated by a desire to exact revenge on Athena for having effectively taken over her old life on ''Galactica'' according to the show writers.
***Though she initially hesitated, a knowing glance to the corner where Athena was hidden, is the clue to her decision to defile Athena's relationship with Helo.

===Starbuck's role===
* The mysterious piano player is [[Dreilide Thrace|Kara's father]], which can be concluded by his sudden disappearance and by the flashbacks with both Kara and her father playing the piano when she was little. These flashbacks mirror the exact same movements done by Captain Thrace and the piano player.<ref>http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=1598</ref>
* The title of the tape Kara receives back from Helo is "Dreilide Thrace Live at the Helice Opera House."
** [[w:Helice|Helice]], also spelled Helike, was an ancient Greek city which sank into the Corinthian Gulf in 373 B.C. It may have formed the basis of the myth of the lost city [[w:Atlantis|Atlantis]].<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helice</ref><ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2001/helike.shtml</ref>
** Helice was the ancient Greek name <ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/620003/Ursa-Major</ref> for the constellation [[w:Ursa Major|Ursa Major]] (the Great Bear). <i>Helice</i> in Greek means "to spin" or "to turn"; it is the root of the modern word <i>helix</i>. Ursa Major revolves around [[w:Polaris|Polaris]], the Pole Star, hence the name. This may be a reference to the spinning of the [[maelstrom]] Kara flew into before her ship was destroyed, and it could also refer to the [[mandala]] found on the wall of her apartment and the [[Temple of Five]].
** [[w:Helike_(mythology)|Helice/Helike]] was also the name of a nymph in Greek mythology who nursed the infant [[Zeus]], along with another nymph, Melissa (which name itself means "honey" or "honey bee"). <ref>http://www.constellationsofwords.com/Constellations/UrsaMajor.html</ref>
** [[w:Helike_(moon)|Helike]] is also a newly-discovered moon of [[w:Jupiter|Jupiter]].
** However, the appearance of the word <i>Helice</i> in the show may simply be a tongue-in-cheek reference to [[Bear McCreary]]'s heavy involvement with this episode -- Ursa Major, and McCreary, both being "The Great Bear."<ref>http://tvbacon.wordpress.com/2009/02/28/battlestar-galactica-someone-to-watch-over-me-live-at-the-helice-opera-house/</ref>
* It is possible that Starbuck also has the ability of Projection and she projected the Piano Player beside her when she played a section of "All Along the Watchtower" from the drawing Hera made, which turned out to be musical notation. She, from her POV, was playing a long side of him but when Saul Tigh, Ellen Tigh, and Tory Foster confronted her about where she learned to play that music he was gone. Perhaps it was just standard human daydreaming, or a [[Virtual beings|Virtual being]], but it could had been projection.

===Tyrol and the other Finals===
*The Final Five have the same [[Projection|projection]] ability as the Cylons they created. Cylons can share projections.
* Projections can include not just imaginary environments but also imaginary people, such as Boomer and Tyrol's "daughter" Dionne.
* It also appears that projections might be a form of persistent environment -- similar to real-life virtual worlds such as [[w:Second Life|Second Life]], as Tyrol re-enters Boomer's projection after she escapes with Hera, as if expecting to find her and Dionne still in there.
* The Final Five, [[Hera Agathon]], and [[Kara Thrace]] are all somehow connected to each other by [[The Music]]. Also possibly connected via the song is Kara's [[Dreilide Thrace|mysterious father]].
*Both the Agathons and Tyrol suffer the lost of a daughter: Hera and Tyrol's imaginary daughter from his and Boomer's shared projection; both taken by Boomer. Hera actually, Tyrol's symbolically in Tyrol's solo projection. Both Athena and Tyrol suffer great grief and display it: Athena's primal howls and beating her arm against Helo's back in rage/despair; Tyrol's sinking to his knees and burying his head in his arms in his child's empty room in his projection. Helo initially took the situation stoically but in the previews for the next episode [[Islanded In a Stream of Stars]], it appears the emotional toll over the loss of his daughter is telling on Helo when Adama, presumably taking about Hera, says-uncharacteristically-"get over it" to a disheveled Helo.
* Ellen Tigh has the same reaction to hearing The Music as her husband and Tory Foster. She, of course, remembers hearing Sam Anders play the song on Earth.

===The status of Cylons in the Fleet===
* The Cylons seem to have officially joined the Fleet as they now have the representation they wanted on the new Quorum in the form of a Six named Sonja. It is also confirmed that Cylon and Colonial pilots are performing joint [[CAP]]s.
** This is most clearly seen when Athena staggers into the briefing room and Helo orders one of the Sixes to go get the medics, the Six unhesitatingly responds "Yes, Sir". Several Sixes and Eights are also seen attending Starbuck's "toothpaste briefing." At the toothpaste briefing, Starbuck states that "Six has the color assignments and recognition codes," (not, for instance, "''This'' Six..." or "The Six in the front row..."), and the Six in question casually raises her hand for the pilots behind her to see.
** The rebel Cylon pilots do not appear to have been commissioned into the Colonial military, as they wear Cylon flight suits and none is addressed by rank.
** The Sixes and Eights appear to use their model numbers as surnames, and are referred to and addressed as "Six" or "Eight". They do not yet appear to have been given individual call-signs.
* Despite integrating allied flight command (at least among manned Heavy Raiders), being represented in the Quorum, and subordinating their Basestar weapons control to President Roslin ("[[Blood on the Scales]]"), the Rebel Cylons have retained some sovereignty and are thus entitled to extradite Sharon "Boomer" Valerii and try her for treason under Cylon law.
* Cylon law does not prohibit punishments to be enacted ''ex post facto''. Sonja Six explains that a death penalty provision would have been meaningless prior to the destruction of the hub, yet they intend to execute Boomer if she is found guilty for the treason she is accused of committing prior to the hub's destruction.

===Miscellaneous===
* It has been unclear whether Karl Agathon is still the [[Commander Air Group]] (CAG) of Galactica or Kara Thrace officially takes over the CAG as Agathon used to join important staff meetings with Adama & Tigh in previous episodes. However, this episode clearly shows that Thrace is now serving as the CAG of Galactica.

== Questions ==
===Galactica's condition ===
*If jumping in very close proximity to a ship is a very dangerous thing to do then why then in [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]] when the tylium ship [[Hitei Kan]] jumped away form the intercepting and boarding Vipers nothing happened to them other than being upended?
** It was dangerous for ''Galactica'' because of its failing structure.
** Also, as noted above, the spatial distortion caused by the Raptor's jump, only reaching part of Galactica, would cause much more shearing force and therefore much more stress on the structure. Since the Raptors in "A Disquiet Follows My Soul" are much smaller than the tylium ship, they were pretty much 'bounced' off the spatial rift
* With the ''Galactica'' in the shape she is in now, how are the civilian ships holding up? Are they in a similar condition? Could this explain why there is only 35 ships mentioned remaining in the fleet?
**Very likely much better since they don't take battle damage and generally don't maneuver wildly to attack or evade. However, yes they have been in space constantly for four years likely past several mandatory maintenance checks and overhauls, both minor and major. Still, most of the civilian ships would be in much better shape than ''Galactica'' because they run and don't stand and fight and take hits and many of them are newer than ''Galactica''.
** If 35 is indeed the correct number of ships in the Fleet, then nearly half the Fleet's ships have been lost. Given that few have been seen to be lost on screen, the majority of these losses probably occurred during the rapid evacuation of the settlement of New Caprica. Many ships would have either have been destroyed trying to flee, or left on the planet's surface. Outside of that, several ships might have been abandoned off screen due to deteriorating conditions- presumably after being stripped for parts with the civilians moved to other ships or ''Galactica'' herself.
***The 35 ships mentioned in [[Blood on the Scales]] may have only been the number of ships that had initially sided with Gaeta and Zarek, rather than the total number of ships in the fleet (See the Analysis section of Blood on the Scales).
* Is Galactica the "Dying Leader" from the Pythian Prophecy?

===The actions of Boomer===
* Is Boomer taking Hera to Cavil, and if so, is she of value to him in and of herself or will he ransom her for the Final Five to rebuild [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection]]? Or is Boomer working alone or for a third party? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Official Statements|Answer]])
* What was the note Boomer was writing down in her cell when she first sensed Tyrol watching her? Perhaps a note to him explaining her then future actions?
* Did Boomer sleep with Helo merely to maintain her pretense, because she was attracted to him, or to intentionally hurt Athena? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Official Statements|Answer]])
* Did Boomer intentionally jump so close to ''Galactica'' in order to further damage the already weakened ship? Is this a prelude to an attack on the Fleet by Cavil's forces?
* Since Boomer was able to find the fleet, why doesn't Cavil just jump in and attack the Fleet? Surely he has superior numbers. Is it merely because of fear of death, since they can no longer resurrect?
** Cavil seems to want Hera- this would only be possible by using Boomer as an infiltrator rather than attacking ''Galactica'' outright. Attacking the Fleet would only result in them jumping away anyway.
*** Also, Cavil probably doesn't want to risk accidentally killing the Final Five, who he needs to regain the ability to resurrect.
* Who would have represented Boomer at her trial?

===Starbuck's role===
* What is the source of the "Slick" image Starbuck has been seeing? Is he her father? Is he a variation of Kara's Inner Leoben from "[[Maelstrom]]"?
* How did Starbuck and Hera arrive at a piano version of the same [[The Music|melody]] originally played by Anders on a guitar on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]?
* Could Kara be a reincarnation of the woman that Anders originally played the song for?
* Where did the piano in [[Joe's Bar]] come from?
* Will the Helice Opera House have any connection to the visions of the [[Opera House]] shared by Roslin, [[Caprica-Six]], and Athena?
**It is to note that in their shared vision both Athena and President Roslin are depicted running after Hera with Hera then being taken by Baltar and a Six perhaps Virtual Six. In the episode Hera is taken by Boomer. Roslin somehow without knowing what was going on in CIC or the hanger deck reacted to Boomer taking Hera by going into a trance like state and then collapsing the moment Boomer jumped. Presumably Athena is going to try to find Hera, chase her in effect as will presumably Roslin somehow. This all occurs when Starbuck finds the tape of her father performing live at the Helice Opera House . However, no analogous occurrences are known to have happened to Baltar and Caprica Six as Boomer was taking Hera, at least none that has been revealed.

===Tyrol and the other Finals===
* Is the Eight switched with Boomer by Tyrol dead, or merely injured?
** Probably merely injured. It is doubtful Tyrol would have gone so far as to actually kill another Eight to save Boomer. Furthermore, if the Eight had been dead, Tyrol's trickery would have been discovered more quickly.
* Will Tyrol's involvement in Boomer's escape be figured out? Will he confess?
** It will be difficult for him to deny involvement considering the presence of the unconscious Eight he substituted for Boomer in the brig.
***That assumes the Eight can identify him as the one that attacked her in the work area. It was coal pitch black dark when he knocked her out. Still, the circumstance of him being the one to restore power to the Cell Area and knowing how hard he pleaded for Boomer's life makes him a natural suspect. What could convict him beyond doubt is if people on the hanger deck remember him helping "Athena" - as everyone thought at the time - with that large very heavy equipment box. It is known that Cylons can tell each other apart on sight despite them being indistinguishable to humans (unless they change their outward appearence like hair style and color). If someone recalls Tyrol helping so-called "Athena" on the hanger deck that will be used as proof positive that Tyrol was complicit in her escape, Tyrol cannot plead truthful ignorance like Helo can when he thought Boomer was his wife and had sex with her.
* If Tyrol's treachery does come to light, how will others react? What would Athena do to him? Helo?
* What sort of treatment could Tyrol expect on Cavil's Baseship if he had gone with Boomer?
* Is Anders' head being kept shaved and if so why? If, as Cottle suggests, it has been weeks since his operation, his hair should presumably be growing back. Perhaps it is to make it easier to monitor his unusual EEG traces.
*Generally Tory Foster's attitudes toward humans is more in line with Cavil than the Rebel Cylons. Given Tory's consistant anti human statements positions and actions is it possible that she has contacted the Cavil faction of the Cylons given her contempt for humanity and her desire to abandon them? This could be a possible way that Cavil located the Fleet if he indeed sent Boomer to kidnap Hera.
**Presumably with her full memories restored, Ellen Tigh would know where Earth is. After reaching Earth it would be logical for her to assume the fleet decided to charter the local region for habitable planets.
***This of course assumes that she would tell him knowing what he would do to the humans if he caught them. Perhaps it is likely that during her "escape" Ellen told Boomer where the fleet would likely be. Then after Boomer escaped with Hera back to Cavil she will tell him then where the fleet is and its condition. It is even possible that Boomer jumped as close to Galactica as she did knowing that it would damage her and likely prevent her from jumping to a new loacation after she left, fixing the fleet in place. That would mean that the fleet is now vulnerable to attack.

===The status of Cylons in the Fleet===
* Why was Sonja elected to represent the Cylons?
** The Sixes appear to be the most influential leaders within the rebel Cylon society, and posess the most individuality. [[Caprica-Six]] sowed the seeds of the [[Cylon Civil War]], Natalie led the revolt, and Sixes generally were in senior positions in the occupation government of [[New Caprica]].
**In addition, on a pure show production level, it probably was easier to use a "regular" actress for this small role instead of having the actor who plays Leoben to come in. The decision might have simply been a toss up between using either Cylon actress.
* Do all the ships in the Fleet - regardless of their relative crew and passenger size - get to send representatives to the new Quorum? (This is similar to the situation the Framers of the United States Constitution faced when trying to decide if state representation in Congress should be based on individual state population or restricted to the same number of representatives per state).
* To what extent are the semi-sentient Raiders and Centurions integrated into the Colonial or allied military force?
**Likely none in terms of an integrated force; that is they are still under the Humanoid Cylons' control in the Baseship. Only Cylon Heavy Raiders are holding joint operations with Colonial forces and they require a Cylon Humanoid pilot.
* Given their new mortality, desire to sustain their species, breeding difficulty, and integration with Colonial society (at least within the military and government sectors), are the rebel Cylons attempting (consciously or unconciously) to find human matches for themselves?
* Why have no Twos been seen as pilots or workcrew?
** Probably a budgeting issue. It may not have been practical to schedule [[Callum Kieth Rennie]] just to do some Cylon Goo painting.

===Miscellaneous===
* What is Roslin's physical status?
* What connection is there between Roslin's collapse and Hera's kidnapping?
**Yes, there is one, that was made clear by the intercutting betwen Boomer's escape, CIC and her trance like state, culminating in her saying "Hera" right after Boomer jumped from ''Galactica''. The ''exact'' nature of is still unclear.
* Despite being rudely put down by Dr. Cottle, was the Eight at Anders's bedside giving a correct assessment on what Anders's brain was doing when she speculated "Well, maybe his brain is rebooting, reorganizing as it heals?"?
*Will the Eight's idea of plugging Anders into the [[datastream]] lead anywhere?
**In the previews for the next episode "[[Islanded In a Stream of Stars]]", Anders is depicted in either a Resurrection tank or a Hybrid's pool with his wife Kara Thrace by his side. He reaches up and grabs her wrist. Assuming this isn't a dream, projection, or some other false image, it looks like they will try out the Eight's suggestion.
*When Starbuck follows up her offer of Tauron toothpaste with the comment "Gods know most of you need it," is it merely a joke, or an indicator that ''all'' toothpaste stocks are running out? If so, this would mean that dental hygiene, a measure of basic physical health, is deteriorating.
*Why was Hera unable to differentiate between Boomer and Athena, despite having previously shown the ability to do so in the episode "[[Rapture]]"?
**If one watches that scene again, Boomer quickly greets Hera and then shoves a bottle from the table Hera was sitting at into Hera's mouth. She quickly maintains it there as she rushed out of the nursery.
***This is a very likely senerio. To be clear: Boomer brought the sippy cup with her. What happened is that she breezed in with it, put it on the table and then quickly scooped up Hera, picked up the sippy cup likely filled with a sedative and shoved it in her mouth to keep her silent. "Hera" does smile when she first sees "Boomer" but this is more likely that the real world intruded in the acting; that is the toddler actress Iliana Gomez-Martinez who plays "Hera" was glad to see [[Grace Park]], the actress who plays "Boomer," "Athena" and all the other "Eights".

== Official Statements ==
*Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune interviews David Weddle and Bradley Thompson<ref>http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/02/battlestar-galactica-starbuck-boomer-someone-to-watch-over-me-.html</ref>:
**Boomer had a sick desire to strike out at Athena, based on a perverse envy.
**Boomer's escape with Ellen was staged so that she could kidnap Hera. She intended to just use the Chief, but their interactions did awaken feelings she thought were dead.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*''Ellen Tigh, Saul Tigh, and Tory Foster are in Joe's bar. Saul is remarking at the state of someone they cared about:''

:Saul: Cottle was right, I should've never insisted on seeing him. His eyes were open! I wasn't ready for that. The little guy was looking right at me!

::''Saul was not talking about Anders (in a coma with his eyes open) but the body of his dead son Liam that was delivered stillborn after he died in utero but whose corpse he insisted on seeing.''

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Dr. [[S. Cottle]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Roark Critchlow]] as [[Slick]]
* [[Iliana Gomez-Martinez]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
* [[ Torrance Coombs]] as Lance Corporal [[C. Sellers]]
* [[Ivan Cermak]] as Corporal [[D. Wallace]]
* [[Curtis Caravaggio]] as [[Nathanson]]
* [[Cherilynn Fulbright]] as [[Dionne]]
* [[Patrick Gilmore]] as [[Rafferty]]
* [[Samantha Caine]] as Off-duty Crew Person
* [[Erika-Shaye Gair]] as Young [[Kara Thrace]]
* [[Darcy Laurie]] as [[Dealino]]
* [[Sonja Bennett]] as Specialist [[Marcie Brasko]]
* [[David Weddle]] as Smoking man in [[Joe's bar]] (uncredited)

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Bradley Thompson]]
[[Category:Episodes written by David Weddle]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Nankin]]

Someone to Watch Over Me

2009-03-05T01:18:43Z

Ginsengaddict: /* Galactica's condition */

{{Episode Data
| image=SomeoneWatchingOverMe.jpg
| title= Someone To Watch Over Me
| season= 4
| episode=17
| guests=
| writer= [[Bradley Thompson]] <br/> [[David Weddle]]
| story=
| director= [[Michael Nankin]]
| production=419
| rating=1,657,000 viewers (Live+SD)<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/03/03/wwe-raw-the-closer-and-president-obama-lead-cable-viewing/13835|title=WWE RAW, The Closer and President Obama lead cable viewing|date=03 March 2009|accessdate=04 March 2009|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
| US airdate=February 27, 2009
| CAN airdate=February 27, 2009
| UK airdate=March 3, 2009
| dvd=
| population=39556
| oldpopulation=39556
| prev=[[Deadlock]]
| next=[[Islanded in a Stream of Stars]]
}}

== Overview ==
:''[[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] discovers a hidden musical ability that bears a mysterious significance to the final five Cylons, and her tune is found to have a connection with three-year-old human-Cylon hybrid [[Hera Agathon|Hera]]. The president authorizes [[Sharon Valerii|Boomer]]'s extradition from the brig so she can stand trial for treason on the Cylon baseship.''<ref>http://www.locatetv.com/tv/battlestar-galactica/season-4/6118356</ref>

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===
* [[Kara Thrace]] gets out of her bunk and opens her locker. Looking in the mirror, she momentarily sees the image of her own corpse found on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] in the reflection. Disturbed, Kara takes out the bloodstained dog tags recovered from the corpse and stares at them, silently brooding to herself.
* Kara goes through her daily routine - showering, dressing, giving the Cylon and Colonial pilots their assignments, doing paperwork, and drinking at the bar.
* [[The Fleet (RDM)|The Fleet]] is still searching for a habitable planet. ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' is now experiencing frequent power losses and plumbing disruptions due to the ongoing repair work.
* [[Galen Tyrol|Tyrol]] informs [[Admiral Adama]], [[Lee Adama]], and [[Laura Roslin|President Roslin]] that the repairs and the Cylon organic substance will buy the ship a few more jumps, but not many. The admiral states that he isn't ready to give up just yet.
* Lee congratulates Sonja, a [[Number Six]] model, on her appointment as the Cylons' representative to the newly-formed Quorum of Ships' Captains.
* Sonja makes a formal request that Boomer be returned to the Cylons. When Adama starts to protest that Boomer tried to kill him, Sonja explains that they don't want Boomer set free. They want to try Boomer for treason, as she sided with [[Cavil]] in the [[Cylon Civil War]].
* When Lee asks what will happen to Boomer if she's convicted, Sonja says that with the loss of their ability to resurrect, the Cylons can now implement capital punishment.
* Tyrol realizes what this means: They're going to kill Boomer.

=== Act 1 ===

=== Act 2 ===

=== Act 3 ===

=== Act 4 ===

== Notes ==
* [[Gaius Baltar]] and [[Caprica-Six]] do not appear in this episode. As with the previous episode, [[Lee Adama]] appears in only a couple of scenes.
* "[[Wikipedia:Someone to Watch Over Me (song)|Someone To Watch Over Me]]" is the name of a song composed by [[Wikipedia:George Gershwin|George]] and [[Wikipedia:Ira Gershwin|Ira Gershwin]], and featured in the musical [[Wikipedia:Oh, Kay!|''Oh, Kay!'']] A major theme of the song is the need to find love and acceptance, something [[Sharon Valerii]], [[Galen Tyrol]] and [[Kara Thrace]] are all seeking in their own ways.
** There was also an episode of [[w:Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek: Voyager]] named for the song, in which it is performed at the end by The Doctor.
* Weeks have passed since the end of [[Gaeta's Mutiny|the mutiny]], as evidenced by [[Cottle]]'s comment about how long Anders' EKG readings have remained steady, and Starbuck's comment about how long she has repeated the same mission briefing.
* Starbuck acknowledges her pilots that the mutiny has "thinned our numbers". This, combined with the apparent absence of pilots such as [[Margaret Edmonson]] and [[Diana Seelix]], confirms their involvement in the mutiny did not go unpunished, although exactly what that punishment is remains unknown.
** In the Podcast for "[[Deadlock]]" RDM states that all the mutineers were imprisoned on the [[Astral Queen]].
* After her apparent death in "[[Maelstrom]]", Kara's personal belongings were auctioned off. Helo has managed to get them all back for her. However, the only thing Kara is interested in is her father's music tape.
* Some of the music played by the mysterious piano player is from the original series. [[Numian's 3rd Sonata]], Second Movement, is in fact from the opening dialogue of the classic series ("There are those who believe that life here, began out there..."), and the original [[Cylon]] musical cue is derived from that tune as well. This is not the first time music from the original series has shown up (i.e. the [[Colonial Anthem]]), and lends to the idea that 'everything has happened before, and will happen again'.
* The brand of "[[The_Twelve_Colonies_%28RDM%29#Tauron|Tauron]] toothpaste" offered as a prize to the pilots is called "[[Felgercarb]]," a word used in the original series to mean "shit." Tauron comes from Taurus the bull. In essence, Kara is offering the pilot who finds a new planet "bullshittoothpaste".
* The collection of named [[Number Six]] models expands with the addition of [[Sonja]], who becomes the first Cylon to be elected to the Fleet's reconstituted Quorum.
*When Tyrol visits and talks to Boomer for the first time in the Brig, during the conversation Boomer calls Tyrol "Galen" for the first time, at least publicly and on screen. In past episodes, both Boomer and Athena usually referred to their significant others with their callsigns/titles. For Athena, it was always referring to Agathon as Helo. For Boomer, it was always referring to Tyrol as Chief. Athena was the first of the two to break that tradition, noticeable after the two married. Boomer's shared projection with Tyrol and their imaginary marriage may be the reason why she ceased calling him solely "Chief."

== Analysis ==
===Galactica's condition ===
*FTL jumps appear to create spatial distortions that can seriously strain a ships hull. Although bad hull damage does not necessarily prevent a ship from jumping (as has been seen many times before in the seasons, for example ''Pegasus'' - which jumped after being hit by three nuclear missiles in [[The Captain's Hand]]) the threat to ''Galactica'' has been compounded by the added riddling of the entire aged superstructure with microfractures. Tigh expresses concern that a jump within the flight pod will seriously strain the internal integrity of the ship. Boomer's FTL jump does eventually appear to cause a chain reaction of hull collapses along ''Galactica's'' port side, a side visibly weakened by Cylon attack, and suffering general aging in the 50+ year old ship's structure.
*The port side of ''Galactica'' which suffers damage in this episode has been seen specifically to suffer major stress before now- particularly during the [[Battle of New Caprica]] when it was mentioned that explosive decompressions were imminent in that section. That side of the ship also saw the port water tank blow out in [[Water]]-as well as damage from a nuclear explosion incurred during the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]] though these seemed to be repaired it no doubt contributed to the area's hull fatigue.
* Many individuals express fears of the damage an FTL jump can do to ''Galactica'', implying FTL jumps place serious strains on a ships hull–or even the hull of a ship nearby and a degree of hull integrity is important to allow a ship to continue jumping for continued periods. This appears quite a new phenomenon in the canon of the show and was not mentioned in previous seasons, though it of course makes for a convenient plot conceit now. Before this ships have frequently been seen jumping and exiting a jump close to each other in the series with seemingly no ill effects- though it is possible Boomer's Raptor was much closer to Galactica's hull than has ever been seen before. In the episode [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]] the tylium ship jumped whilst surrounded by Raptors and Vipers and no ship seemed to suffer damage, although they were knocked back and sent tumbling. It should be made clear that smaller objects are proportionally stronger and that larger objects should feel much less shear. It is also possible the stress of by being caught in the FTL field of another vessel rather than that caused by a vessels own, properly configured FTL drive is more powerful and dangerous.
*Given that ''Galactica'' has jumped hundreds of times whilst damaged before now, it is not explained why no damage has occurred before given it is assumed damage will be guaranteed by an unplanned jump in this episode. In the miniseries ''Galactica'' suffered a nuke hit and yet jumped several times later. Also despite falling through the atmosphere of New Caprica ''Galactica'' was able to execute an FTL jump despite the severe strains on the hull. Fears of FTL stress were not mentioned.
** ''Galactica'' has probably been taking damage over the years from multiple jumps and suffering combat damage. It's just that the extent of the damage has not become apparent until now.
** It is in part because of those actions, the atomic strikes and it jumping and falling though into a planet's gravity well and its atmosphere is why ''Galactic''a is suffering from massive metal fatigue, in addition to normal wear and tear of a 50+ year old ship and the fact that she hasn't had a major or even minor overhaul in years even before the the attack on the Colonies has taken their toll. In addition as discovered by Chief Tyrol the builders of ''Galactica'' "cut corners" with the building specifications of the ship. Ironically, if the ''Galactica'' was able to retire on schedule these issues of "substandard" construction wouldn't had come up.
** Further to the point above about small craft being subject to less 'shear', it stands to reason that the size of the disturbance created by a ship executing a jump might be proportional to the size of the ship itself. A large vessel such as the tylium ship may create a widespread but relatively smooth disturbance, so the nearby Raptors would have been like corks bobbing as a wave passed. Conversely, a small vessel such as a Raptor might create a localised but very sharp distortion that poses more risk of damage to a large ship close to it.
*The age of ''Galactica'''s FTL drive might explain why the ship's hull integrity is taxed so badly by her FTL drive - more modern drives might not cause so much stress, and might explain why other Fleet ships and the rebel basestar can continue to jump despite the damage their hulls have taken.
* ''Galactica'' is in very bad shape from the metal fatigue in the hull. It's so bad that Tyrol says that all the [[Cylon organic resin]] could do is buy a little more time, but not too much from the looks of it, and that the ship might only be capable of a few more FTL jumps, if that. The ship is dying of old age and abuse and there's nothing anyone can do save it completely. The damage Boomer created during her escape has no doubt worsened the ship's condition.

===The actions of Boomer===
* Adama has still not forgiven Boomer for shooting him.
* Ellen's escape from Cavil seems to have been orchestrated between him and Boomer in order to get Boomer on ''Galactica'' so she could kidnap Hera according to Ellen's speculation to her husband Saul Tigh.
* It would appear that while Cavil was willing to let Ellen go in order to obtain Hera, members of the [[Final Five]] are still of some value to him, as evidenced by Boomer's offer for Tyrol to go with her.
**It is more likely that Boomer genuinely wanted him to come with her because she truly loves him. Bringing him back to John Cavil-if that is where she is headed-would be of no use to him because as Ellen stated he would need all Five of the Finals to recreate Resurrection. In addition to her rekindled love, she has seen-or at least heard about-that it is possible for a Final Five Cylon to mate and have offspring with a "Standard Model" like herself even if Caprica-Six's pregnancy by Saul Tigh failed, so the possibility of a family which she shared with Tyrol in her projection, was open to her.
* Boomer has gone from being a conflicted sleeper agent to being a willing infiltrator and saboteur on ''Galactica''. With her rekindled love for Tyrol, she may be again conflicted.
* The Cylons want Boomer tried for treason, with execution being a possible outcome, because her actions are linked to the permanent deaths of thousands of Cylons when she sided against her model in the [[Cylon Civil War]]. This parallels the Colonial Fleet's own desire to try [[Gaius Baltar]] for siding against humanity and collaborating with the Cylons on New Caprica.

*It is very possible-but not certain-that the Cylon ability to recognize individual Cylons despite them looking exactly like each other (most of the time, the Sixes seem to have the most variants in hair color and use of makeup, both voluntary actions) relies on actually looking at the individual. In the lavatory where Sharon "Boomer" Valerii severely beats Sharon "Athena" Agathon, Athena initially mistook Boomer as a generic Eight when she saw her in the reflection of a mirror. It was after she stood up, turned around and looked directly at Boomer did Athena recognize her as Boomer. Admittedly however, it is possible that she would had recognized Boomer if she still only watched her in the reflection. Still, she said a full sentence while she looked at her in the mirror-"Great, I hope you are here to fix the frakkin' shower!"-but instantly recognized Boomer the exact moment she saw her directly and not reflected. Perhaps they also need to look the other Cylon square in the eyes, which is what Tyrol does in "[[Deadlock]]" before identifying Boomer.
**Helo did notice that Boomer did smell different. Boomer covered for this saying she found some soap.
***Helo said she smell good not different an she was washing her hands at the time. However there is a relevance to Helo mentioning her smell. In a scene from [[Litmus]] Tyrol and Boomer were in bed together shortly after engaging in intercourse. He said to her: "Sometimes at work I try to conjure up what your face looks like...Curve of your lips.....The way your hair falls. How you smell." Helo as just noted told Boomer she smelled good just before they had sex.
* Boomer has sex with [[Helo]] by pretending to be [[Sharon Agathon|Athena]] after he mistook her for his wife and he insisted after she tried to leave, but then enthusiastically let him believe she was Athena and willingly had sex with him. This is ironic, as Athena originally seduced Helo on [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]], by pretending to be Boomer.
** Boomer's willness to have sex with Agathon - in the presence of Athena - was motivated by a desire to exact revenge on Athena for having effectively taken over her old life on ''Galactica'' according to the show writers.
***Though she initially hesitated, a knowing glance to the corner where Athena was hidden, is the clue to her decision to defile Athena's relationship with Helo.

===Starbuck's role===
* The mysterious piano player is [[Dreilide Thrace|Kara's father]], which can be concluded by his sudden disappearance and by the flashbacks with both Kara and her father playing the piano when she was little. These flashbacks mirror the exact same movements done by Captain Thrace and the piano player.<ref>http://www.bearmccreary.com/blog/?p=1598</ref>
* The title of the tape Kara receives back from Helo is "Dreilide Thrace Live at the Helice Opera House."
** [[w:Helice|Helice]], also spelled Helike, was an ancient Greek city which sank into the Corinthian Gulf in 373 B.C. It may have formed the basis of the myth of the lost city [[w:Atlantis|Atlantis]].<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helice</ref><ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2001/helike.shtml</ref>
** Helice was the ancient Greek name <ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/620003/Ursa-Major</ref> for the constellation [[w:Ursa Major|Ursa Major]] (the Great Bear). <i>Helice</i> in Greek means "to spin" or "to turn"; it is the root of the modern word <i>helix</i>. Ursa Major revolves around [[w:Polaris|Polaris]], the Pole Star, hence the name. This may be a reference to the spinning of the [[maelstrom]] Kara flew into before her ship was destroyed, and it could also refer to the [[mandala]] found on the wall of her apartment and the [[Temple of Five]].
** [[w:Helike_(mythology)|Helice/Helike]] was also the name of a nymph in Greek mythology who nursed the infant [[Zeus]], along with another nymph, Melissa (which name itself means "honey" or "honey bee"). <ref>http://www.constellationsofwords.com/Constellations/UrsaMajor.html</ref>
** [[w:Helike_(moon)|Helike]] is also a newly-discovered moon of [[w:Jupiter|Jupiter]].
** However, the appearance of the word <i>Helice</i> in the show may simply be a tongue-in-cheek reference to [[Bear McCreary]]'s heavy involvement with this episode -- Ursa Major, and McCreary, both being "The Great Bear."<ref>http://tvbacon.wordpress.com/2009/02/28/battlestar-galactica-someone-to-watch-over-me-live-at-the-helice-opera-house/</ref>
*It is possible that Starbuck also has the ability of Projection and she projected the Piano Player beside her when she played a section of "All Along the Watchtower" from the drawing Hera made, which turned out to be musical notation. She, from her POV, was playing a long side of him but when Saul Tigh, Ellen Tigh, and Tory Foster confronted her about where she learned to play that music he was gone. Perhaps it was just standard human daydreaming, or a [[Virtual beings|Virtual being]], but it could had been projection.

===Tyrol and the other Finals===
*The Final Five have the same [[Projection|projection]] ability as the Cylons they created. Cylons can share projections.
* Projections can include not just imaginary environments but also imaginary people, such as Boomer and Tyrol's "daughter" Dionne.
* It also appears that projections might be a form of persistent environment -- similar to real-life virtual worlds such as [[w:Second Life|Second Life]], as Tyrol re-enters Boomer's projection after she escapes with Hera, as if expecting to find her and Dionne still in there.
* The Final Five, [[Hera Agathon]], and [[Kara Thrace]] are all somehow connected to each other by [[The Music]]. Also possibly connected via the song is Kara's [[Dreilide Thrace|mysterious father]].
*Both the Agathons and Tyrol suffer the lost of a daughter: Hera and Tyrol's imaginary daughter from his and Boomer's shared projection; both taken by Boomer. Hera actually, Tyrol's symbolically in Tyrol's solo projection. Both Athena and Tyrol suffer great grief and display it: Athena's primal howls and beating her arm against Helo's back in rage/despair; Tyrol's sinking to his knees and burying his head in his arms in his child's empty room in his projection. Helo initially took the situation stoically but in the previews for the next episode [[Islanded In a Stream of Stars]], it appears the emotional toll over the loss of his daughter is telling on Helo when Adama, presumably taking about Hera, says-uncharacteristically-"get over it" to a disheveled Helo.

===The status of Cylons in the Fleet===
* The Cylons seem to have officially joined the Fleet as they now have the representation they wanted on the new Quorum in the form of a Six named Sonja. It is also confirmed that Cylon and Colonial pilots are performing joint [[CAP]]s.
** This is most clearly seen when Athena staggers into the briefing room and Helo orders one of the Sixes to go get the medics, the Six unhesitatingly responds "Yes, Sir". Several Sixes are also seen attending Starbuck's "toothpaste briefing." At the toothpaste briefing, Starbuck states that "Six has the color assignments and recognition codes," (not, for instance, "''This'' Six..." or "The Six in the front row..."), and the Six in question casually raises her hand for the pilots behind her to see.
** The rebel Cylon pilots do not appear to have been commissioned into the Colonial military, as they wear Cylon flight suits and none is addressed by rank.
** The Sixes and Eights appear to use their model numbers as surnames, and are referred to and addressed as "Six" or "Eight". They do not yet appear to have been given individual call-signs.
* Despite integrating allied flight command (at least among manned Heavy Raiders), being represented in the Quorum, and subordinating their Basestar weapons control to President Roslin ("[[Blood on the Scales]]"), the Rebel Cylons have retained some sovereignty and are thus entitled to extradite Sharon "Boomer" Valerii and try her for treason under Cylon law.
* Cylon law does not prohibit punishments to be enacted ''ex post facto''. Sonja Six explains that a death penalty provision would have been meaningless prior to the destruction of the hub, yet they intend to execute Boomer if she is found guilty for the treason she is accused of committing prior to the hub's destruction.

===Miscellaneous===
* It has been unclear whether Karl Agathon is still the [[Commander Air Group]] (CAG) of Galactica or Kara Thrace officially takes over the CAG as Agathon used to join important staff meetings with Adama & Tigh in previous episodes. However, this episode clearly shows that Thrace is now serving as the CAG of Galactica.

== Questions ==
===Galactica's condition ===
*If jumping in very close proximity to a ship is a very dangerous thing to do then why then in [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]] when the tylium ship [[Hitei Kan]] jumped away form the intercepting and boarding Vipers nothing happened to them other than being upended?
** It was dangerous for ''Galactica'' because of its failing structure.
** Also, as noted above, the spatial distortion caused by the Raptor's jump, only reaching part of Galactica, would cause much more shearing force and therefore much more stress on the structure. Since the Raptors in "A Disquiet Follows My Soul" are much smaller than the tylium ship, they were pretty much 'bounced' off the spatial rift
* With the ''Galactica'' in the shape she is in now, how are the civilian ships holding up? Are they in a similar condition? Could this explain why there is only 35 ships mentioned remaining in the fleet?
**Very likely much better since they don't take battle damage and generally don't maneuver wildly to attack or evade. However, yes they have been in space constantly for four years likely past several mandatory maintenance checks and overhauls, both minor and major. Still, most of the civilian ships would be in much better shape than ''Galactica'' because they run and don't stand and fight and take hits and many of them are newer than ''Galactica''.
** If 35 is indeed the correct number of ships in the Fleet, then nearly half the Fleet's ships have been lost. Given that few have been seen to be lost on screen, the majority of these losses probably occurred during the rapid evacuation of the settlement of New Caprica. Many ships would have either have been destroyed trying to flee, or left on the planet's surface. Outside of that, several ships might have been abandoned off screen due to deteriorating conditions- presumably after being stripped for parts with the civilians moved to other ships or ''Galactica'' herself.
***The 35 ships mentioned in [[Blood on the Scales]] may have only been the number of ships that had initially sided with Gaeta and Zarek, rather than the total number of ships in the fleet (See the Analysis section of Blood on the Scales).
* Is Galactica the "Dying Leader" from the Pythian Prophecy.

===The actions of Boomer===
* Is Boomer taking Hera to Cavil, and if so, is she of value to him in and of herself or will he ransom her for the Final Five to rebuild [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection]]? Or is Boomer working alone or for a third party? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Official Statements|Answer]])
* What was the note Boomer was writing down in her cell when she first sensed Tyrol watching her?
* Did Boomer sleep with Helo merely to maintain her pretense, because she was attracted to him, or to intentionally hurt Athena? ([[Someone to Watch Over Me#Official Statements|Answer]])
* Did Boomer intentionally jump so close to ''Galactica'' in order to further damage the already weakened ship? Is this a prelude to an attack on the Fleet by Cavil's forces?
* Since Boomer was able to find the fleet, why doesn't Cavil just jump in and attack the Fleet? Surely he has superior numbers. Is it merely because of fear of death, since they can no longer resurrect?
** Cavil seems to want Hera- this would only be possible by using Boomer as an infiltrator rather than attacking ''Galactica'' outright. Attacking the Fleet would only result in them jumping away anyway.
*** Also, Cavil probably doesn't want to risk accidentally killing the Final Five, who he needs to regain the ability to resurrect.
===Starbuck's role===
* What is the source of the "Slick" image Starbuck has been seeing? Is he her father? Is he a variation of Kara's Inner Leoben from "[[Maelstrom]]"?
* How did Starbuck and Hera arrive at a piano version of the same [[The Music|melody]] originally played by Anders on a guitar on [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]]?
* Could Kara be a reincarnation of the woman that Anders originally played the song for?
* Where did the piano in [[Joe's Bar]] come from?
* Will the Helice Opera House have any connection to the visions of the [[Opera House]] shared by Roslin, [[Caprica-Six]], and Athena?
**It is to note that in their shared vision both Athena and President Roslin are depicted running after Hera with Hera then being taken by Baltar and a Six perhaps Virtual Six. In the episode Hera is taken by Boomer. Roslin somehow without knowing what was going on in CIC or the hanger deck reacted to Boomer taking Hera by going into a trance like state and then collapsing the moment Boomer jumped. Presumably Athena is going to try to find Hera, chase her in effect as will presumably Roslin somehow. This all occurs when Starbuck finds the tape of her father performing live at the Helice Opera House . However, no analogous occurrences are known to have happened to Baltar and Caprica Six as Boomer was taking Hera, at least none that has been revealed.

===Tyrol and the other Finals===
* Is the Eight switched with Boomer by Tyrol dead, or merely injured?
** Probably merely injured. It is doubtful Tyrol would have gone so far as to actually kill another Eight to save Boomer. Furthermore, if the Eight had been dead, Tyrol's trickery would have been discovered more quickly.
* Will Tyrol's involvement in Boomer's escape be figured out? Will he confess?
** It will be difficult for him to deny involvement considering the presence of the unconscious Eight he substituted for Boomer in the brig.
***That assumes the Eight can identify him as the one that attacked her in the work area. It was coal pitch black dark when he knocked her out. Still, the circumstance of him being the one to restore power to the Cell Area and knowing how hard he pleaded for Boomer's life makes him a natural suspect. What could convict him beyond doubt is if people on the hanger deck remember him helping "Athena" - as everyone thought at the time - with that large very heavy equipment box. It is known that Cylons can tell each other apart on sight despite them being indistinguishable to humans (unless they change their outward appearence like hair style and color). If someone recalls Tyrol helping so-called "Athena" on the hanger deck that will be used as proof positive that Tyrol was complicit in her escape, Tyrol cannot plead truthful ignorance like Helo can when he thought Boomer was his wife and had sex with her.
* If Tyrol's treachery does come to light, how will others react? What would Athena do to him? Helo?
* If Tyrol had gone with Boomer, would Cavil have opened his brain as he threatened to do with Ellen?
* Is Anders' head being kept shaved and if so why? If, as Cottle suggests, it has been weeks since his operation, his hair should presumably be growing back. Perhaps it is to make it easier to monitor his unusual EEG traces.
*Generally Tory Foster's attitudes toward humans is more in line with Cavil than the Rebel Cylons. Given Tory's consistant anti human statements positions and actions is it possible that she has contacted the Cavil faction of the Cylons given her contempt for humanity and her desire to abandon them? This could be a possible way that Cavil located the Fleet if he indeed sent Boomer to kidnap Hera.
**Presumably with her full memories restored, Ellen Tigh would know where Earth is. After reaching Earth it would be logical for her to assume the fleet decided to charter the local region for habitable planets.
***This of course assumes that she would tell him knowing what he would do to the humans if he caught them. Perhaps it is likely that during her "escape" Ellen told Boomer where the fleet would likely be. Then after Boomer escaped with Hera back to Cavil she will tell him then where the fleet is and its condition. It is even possible that Boomer jumped as close to Galactica as she did knowing that it would damage her and likely prevent her from jumping to a new loacation after she left, fixing the fleet in place. That would mean that the fleet is now vulnerable to attack.

===The status of Cylons in the Fleet===
* Why was Sonja elected to represent the Cylons?
** The Sixes appear to be the most influential leaders within the rebel Cylon society, and posess the most individuality. [[Caprica-Six]] sowed the seeds of the [[Cylon Civil War]], Natalie led the revolt, and Sixes generally were in senior positions in the occupation government of [[New Caprica]].
**In addition, on a pure show production level, it probably was easier to use a "regular" actress for this small role instead of having the actor who plays Leoben to come in. The decision might have simply been a toss up between using either Cylon actress.
* Do all the ships in the Fleet - regardless of their relative crew and passenger size - get to send representatives to the new Quorum? (This is similar to the situation the Framers of the United States Constitution faced when trying to decide if state representation in Congress should be based on individual state population or restricted to the same number of representatives per state).
* To what extent are the semi-sentient Raiders and Centurions integrated into the Colonial or allied military force?
**Likely none in terms of an integrated force; that is they are still under the Humanoid Cylon's control in the Baseship. Only Cylon Heavy Raiders are holding joint operations with Colonial forces and they require a Cylon Humanoid pilot.
* Given their new mortality, desire to sustain their species, breeding difficulty, and integration with Colonial society (at least within the military and government sectors), are the rebel Cylons attempting (consciously or unconciously) to find human matches for themselves?

===Miscellaneous===
* What is Roslin's physical status?
* What connection is there between Roslin's collapse and Hera's kidnapping?
**Yes, there is one, that was made clear by the intercutting betwen Boomer's escape, CIC and her trance like state, culminating in her saying "Hera" right after Boomer jumped from ''Galactica''. The ''exact'' nature of is still unclear.
* Despite being rudely put down by Dr. Cottle, was the Eight at Anders's bedside giving a correct assessment on what Anders's brain was doing when she speculated "Well, maybe his brain is rebooting, reorganizing as it heals?"?
*Will the Eight's idea of plugging Anders into the [[datastream]] lead anywhere?
**In the previews for the next episode "[[Islanded In a Stream of Stars]]", Anders is depicted in either a Resurrection tank or a Hybrid's pool with his wife Kara Thrace by his side. He reaches up and grabs her wrist. Assuming this isn't a dream, projection, or some other false image, it looks like they will try out the Eight's suggestion.
*When Starbuck follows up her offer of Tauron toothpaste with the comment "Gods know most of you need it," is it merely a joke, or an indicator that ''all'' toothpaste stocks are running out? If so, this would mean that dental hygiene, a measure of basic physical health, is deteriorating.
*Why was Hera unable to differentiate between Boomer and Athena, despite having previously shown the ability to do so in the episode "[[Rapture]]"?
**If one watches that scene again, Boomer quickly greets Hera and then shoves a bottle from the table Hera was sitting at into Hera's mouth. She quickly maintains it there as she rushed out of the nursery.
***This is a very likely senerio. Boomer quickly scooped up Hera and shoved the sippy cup in her mouth to keep her silent. "Hera" does smile when she first sees "Boomer" but this is more likely that the real world intruded in the acting; that is the toddler actress Iliana Gomez-Martinez who plays "Hera" was glad to see [[Grace Park]], the actress who plays Boomer, Athena and all the other Eights.

== Official Statements ==
*Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune interviews David Weddle and Bradley Thompson<ref>http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/02/battlestar-galactica-starbuck-boomer-someone-to-watch-over-me-.html</ref>:
**Boomer had a sick desire to strike out at Athena.
**Boomer's escape with Ellen was staged so that she could kidnap Hera. She intended to just use the Chief, but their interactions did awaken feelings she thought were dead.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*''Ellen Tigh, Saul Tigh, and Tory Foster are in Joe's bar. Saul is remarking at the state of someone they cared about:''

:Saul: Cottle was right, I should've never insisted on seeing him. His eyes were open! I wasn't ready for that. The little guy was looking right at me!

::''Saul was not talking about Anders (in a coma with his eyes open) but the body of his dead son Liam that was delivered stillborn after he died in utero but whose corpse he insisted on seeing.''

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Dr. [[S. Cottle]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Roark Critchlow]] as [[Slick]]
* [[Iliana Gomez-Martinez]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
* [[ Torrance Coombs]] as Lance Corporal [[C. Sellers]]
* [[Ivan Cermak]] as Corporal [[D. Wallace]]
* [[Curtis Caravaggio]] as [[Nathanson]]
* [[Cherilynn Fulbright]] as [[Dionne]]
* [[Patrick Gilmore]] as [[Rafferty]]
* [[Samantha Caine]] as Off-duty Crew Person
* [[Erika-Shaye Gair]] as Young [[Kara Thrace]]
* [[Darcy Laurie]] as [[Dealino]]
* [[Sonja Bennett]] as Specialist [[Marcie Brasko]]
* [[David Weddle]] as Smoking man in [[Joe's bar]] (uncredited)

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Bradley Thompson]]
[[Category:Episodes written by David Weddle]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Nankin]]

No Exit

2009-02-18T03:25:11Z

Ginsengaddict:

{{Episode Data
| image= NoExitingCylons.jpg
| title= No Exit
| season= 4
| episode=15
| guests=
| writer= [[Ryan Mottesheard]]
| story=
| director= [[Gwyneth Horder-Payton]]
| production=417
| rating=
| US airdate=February 13, 2009 <ref>http://tv.ign.com/articles/920/920164p1.html</ref>
| CAN airdate=February 13, 2009
| UK airdate=February 17, 2009
| dvd=
| population=39556
| oldpopulation=39603
| prev= [[Blood on the Scales]]
| next= [[Deadlock]]
| forumthread= 2634
}}

== Overview ==

:''[[Ellen Tigh]] is resurrected, and she knows all the answers. Anders' condition releases a flood of visions and crucial memories''.

== Summary ==

===Teaser===

* A unique sequence begins this episode, which summarizes in greater detail the origin of the [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]. The episode begins with the phrase "[[Pythia|This has happened before and will happen again]]" as a vista of the decimated [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] appears, now known not only as the home of the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]] but as an all-Cylon colony.
* The opening sequence shows [[Cylon Centurion Model 0005|original Cylon Centurions]] in a [[First Cylon War|Cylon War-era]] [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raider]], and a clip of Centurions firing upon humans during the events of [[Razor]].
* As the Cylon War-era scenes are replaced by present-day scenes of the return of the Cylons, the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]] and the struggles of [[The Fleet (RDM)|the Fleet]], the screen text shows: "The Cylons were created by man. They rebelled. Then they vanished. Forty years later, they came back, they evolved. Fifty thousand, two-hundred ninety-eight human survivors, hunted by the Cylons. [[Humanoid Cylons|Eleven models are known]]--one was sacrificed."

* A flashback scene shows [[Ellen Tigh]] taking a tainted cup of alcohol from her husband, [[Saul Tigh]], who was obliged to end her life for her conspiring with the Cylons ([[Exodus, Part II]]).

* As scenes of Ellen flash, an elaborate visualization of a Cylon [[datastream]] (in a rather [[w:The Matrix|''Matrix''-like sequence]]) appears, concluding with Ellen's [[Resurrection (RDM)|resurrection]] in a [[resurrection tank]].
* At first, Ellen screams and is extremely frightened and disoriented, all alone except for one [[Cylon Centurion|Centurion]] on guard, stoic and indifferent to her screams. But soon she takes in her environment, and dramatically calms herself as if realizing or remembering something important. She calls out to the Centurion pleasantly to help her out of the tank, telling it, "It's okay. You can do that much," as if Ellen knew the programming restrictions of the Centurion.

* The scene shifts to present day in [[The Fleet (RDM)|the Fleet]], cleaning up and attending to the wounded from [[Gaeta's Mutiny|the mutiny]].
* In [[sickbay]], Dr. [[Cottle]] tends to [[Samuel Anders]]'s bullet wound to the head inflicted during the mutiny. He prepares to drill holes in Anders's head to relieve pressure from the hematoma caused by the bullet lodged in his skull.
* Anders, his head shaved and in a brace, recalls various scenes of himself in the past, saying outloud, "Among bright stars, I'm lost. There's a new tide. All the forgotten faces, all the forgotten children, we seek the forgotten language..."
* When [[Kara Thrace]] demands Cottle to take out the bullet, Cottle tells her that relieving the pressure is required before he can call up another surgeon from the ship ''[[Inchon Velle]]'', to remove the bullet.
* Anders continues to experience visions and talk of them as he recalls visions of the [[Temple of Five]], the dead shoreline of Earth, and how Ellen Tigh loved the water.

* The scene shifts back to Ellen Tigh after her resurrection as the timeline is given between Ander's surgery and her return: Eighteen months prior.
* A [[Number One]] appears to Ellen, sitting by the tank. "Hello, John," she says.
* When he objects to that name, Ellen recalls that she named the Number Ones after her own father. The One finishes sarcastically that Ellen also designed his model in Ellen's father's likeness.
* They discuss Saul's decision to kill her on [[New Caprica]]. As John argues over Saul's humanity, Ellen questions if John has changed in any significant way in her absence, saying that she had high hopes for him.
* He leaves, promising to send her some clothes.

* [[Galen Tyrol]] shows Admiral [[William Adama]] something very disturbing in the [[FTL]] engine room. "I first noticed it when I pulled the [[sync coil]]," Tyrol answers, pointing to a series of stress cracks along the fuselage of ''[[Galactica]]''.
* Adama asks Tyrol if he would accept reinstatement as Deck Chief of the ship. When Tyrol reminds Adama of Tyrol's [[Final Five|true nature]], Adama says, extending a hand, "Is that right? So's my [[Executive Officer|XO]]." Tyrol accepts. "Fix my ship, chief."

* The corridors of ''Galactica'' are filled with wounded. Back in sickbay, Anders awakens, asking Kara to gather up the others of his kind. He remembers everything about his past as a Cylon and its significance.

===Act 1===

* The scene moves to twelve months prior to the mutiny aftermath, back in the Cylon fleet.
* John discusses how the "mortal experience" that Ellen endured had left her practically unchanged. When she asks if he still has nightmares, John tells Ellen that, contrary to the programming ''she developed'' for the Number One models, John and his kind had removed the sleep subroutine to avoid dreaming altogether some twenty years prior.
* Ellen counters that, if John believes that he and his kind were poisoned by human traits she developed as well as the Centurion's earlier belief in a "[[God (RDM)|living God]]", then why did his kind spend so much time pursuing darker emotions such as vengeance and murder. John answers that, because his Centurion fore-bearers were slaves to humanity, he wants justice for that.
* Ellen tells him that he doesn't have to be that way as [[Sharon Valerii]] enters, carrying a tray of fruits and cheese. Ellen is happy to see someone familiar from her old life, noting to Valerii that John is taking a risk exposing her to Ellen.
* Realizing how John was likely manipulating Valerii through sexual means, Ellen quips if John had discussed [[The Swirl and Twist|the "Swirl"]] with him. A visibly uncomfortable John leaves but not before asking Valerii to talk about the flaws in Ellen's [[humanoid Cylon]] design. Ellen warns Valerii to make up her own mind about John's crusade for vengeance against mankind.

* Present day, back in ''Galactica's'' sickbay, Anders tells Tyrol, [[Tory Foster]] and Saul Tigh of their past lives on Earth, that Foster and Tyrol were lovers. When Saul recalls trying to get Ellen out of debris as the nukes hit Earth, Anders confirms that all five of them were downloaded to a research ship high above the planet, inferring that the Five were warned that an end was coming.
* When Tigh questions if the Five invented resurrection and Foster questions why such technology was needed when the Earth-bound Cylons could have children, Anders corrects, saying that they ''re-invented'' it: organic memory transfer, originally a technology of the Thirteenth Tribe on [[Kobol]].
* Kara Thrace, also at Anders's bedside, strongly asks Anders to rest but he refuses, needing to tell everything he recalls.
* Anders recalls that resurrection fell into disuse when the Cylons of his type learned to reproduce biologically. The Five, in their past lives, worked tirelessly to bring that ability back.
* It was Ellen who made the intuitive leap, Anders recalls, before Cottle arrives and orders everyone out.

* On ''[[Colonial One]]'', [[Laura Roslin]] and [[Lee Adama]] stand in the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] meeting room, recalling past friends.
* Adama indicates that, while the Quorum should be rebuilt, that he believes that the people of the Fleet should have a different representation that foregoes the old Colonial ties.
* Roslin agrees but tells Adama that he will pick the new Quorum while she sits back, still as President, but in title only. Roslin is hand-picking Adama, [[Revelations|no stranger to strong civilian leadership]], as her eventual successor to the presidency. "It's time I let someone else do the heavy lifting."
* Roslin tells him that he is the right one for the job, reminding him that sometimes, in trying to the right thing, he doesn't always do the smartest thing. An ominous cough by Roslin recalls the ultimate reason why she entrusts Adama to the civilian leadership.

===Act 2===

* Tyrol is guiding the admiral through the bowels of the ship again. This time, he shows Admiral Adama more serious structural failure of the battlestar's superstructure and hull.
* When Adama questions how such metal fatigue could have occurred, Tyrol reminds him that, not only was ''Galactica'' a very old ship (over 50 years old), but that the men who constructed the battlestar, perhaps in a rush to get them to service for the Cylon War, cut corners, using inferior metals and workmanship.
* Tyrol notes that some repairs can be made. Adama agrees, but tells him that the repair teams should be all human.

* Anders tells Tigh and the group that the reason the Five left the destroyed Earth and headed back to the Twelve Tribes was to warn all the tribes that they must take good care of the Cylons they built or suffer the same fate as Earth. But it was too late: the First Cylon War between the Colonies had already started on their arrival.
* Tory Foster questions why the Five arrived two thousand years later. Anders notes that [[FTL|jump drives]] weren't invented yet. The Five's ship traveled at near-light speed, experiencing the effects of relativistic space travel where time slowed for them on their journey back, allowing them to stay alive.
* After Anders recovers from a fit of pain, he continues. The Five met with the Cylons, told them that, if they would stop the war against the [[Twelve Colonies of Kobol]], the Five would aid them in further development of organic Cylons. The Centurions were already experimenting with the beings known as the [[Hybrid]]s ([[Razor]]), but nothing that could live on its own.
* Anders tells the group that, in exchange for peace, the Five helped develop the ''eight'' humanoid Cylon models and gave them resurrection as well.
* Thrace stops him. "You said "eight"." They all realize that the "Significant Seven" was originally eight models. One model was missing.
* Before Anders could clarify, he experiences a seizure.

===Act 3===

* Ellen Tigh's return flashes back to twelve months prior, as the star of the [[algae planet]] goes supernova and the Cylon fleet retreats.
* A series of displays show images of the planet. Ellen recalls the original name of the temple: the [[Temple of Five|"Temple of Hopes"]], built 3,000 years ago by the Thirteenth Tribe. From there, the Tribe was shown the way to Earth by God, Ellen recalls.
* John tells Ellen that the Temple of Five's secrets encouraged one of his kind, the [[Number Three]] known as [[D'Anna Biers]], to see the identities of the Five. John tells Ellen that, as a result, he [[boxing|boxed]] all of the Threes.
* Ellen notes that the Threes can be unboxed, unlike the [[Number Seven]]s, which were permanently disposed of.
* John tells Ellen that the Threes will not be unboxed because of the "carnival trick" left in the Temple's mechanism that revealed the faces of the Five and exposed their identities of the Five to the Threes. Ellen counters. She notes that the Thirteenth Tribe merely backtracked the path of their ancestors, finding their temple. She believes that God orchestrated the events.
* John laments, angrily, how he was unable to experience the recent supernova only in human terms and their comparatively limited perceptions, as opposed to what the Centurions could experience.
* When Ellen replies that the eight models were designed to be as human as possible, John counters that he wants to be more like a true machine and not a machine with human limits.
* John leaves and Valerii asks if Ellen regrets what she has done in the humanoid Cylon design. Ellen answers in the negative. In creating the humanoid Cylons as they are, Ellen believes she has given them something important: free will, including the ability to love freely. But Valerii questions who she could possibly love in the universe--other Cylons, even humanity.

* Back on ''Galactica'' in present day, Saul Tigh and Tory await outside sickbay as Galen Tyrol returns. Anders is being prepped for surgery. As Tyrol reminds him that the Five were responsible for stopping the First Cylon War, Tigh talks about how the Five were responsible for creating the humanoid Cylon race, inferring how the Five were, in turn, responsible for the second [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|war that destroyed the Colonies]].
* Tory Foster reminds both that the humans on Kobol made the Five first. Tigh believes that, while the Cylons must own the responsibility of the humanoid Cylons and their acts, the Five must own up to their actions, just as the humans must own what they did, emphasizing that blame can't be entirely placed on the humans alone.

* As Dr. [[Gerard]] shows the brain scans to Cottle, Thrace and Anders, Gerard indicates that it was lucky that the bullet didn't cause greater injury. Anders's speech is breaking up as he worries that the memories he has recalled might be lost to further surgery. Anders tries to talk more but his speech breaks up more in to strings of unintelligible words--aphasia, affected by the injury.
* Anders tries to object to the surgery, to speak further to the others, but Thrace gives the go-ahead for the surgery. She tells Anders that he has as much time to speak with the others as the surgeons need to prep him.

* The scene backtracks to four months prior, when the [[Resurrection Hub]] is destroyed.
* John arrives at Ellen Tigh's bedside with some liquor in a glass. He tells her of the destruction of the Hub and the imminent extinction of the Cylons. Pleading for her help to rebuild the resurrection process, John tells her that, while the Colonials destroyed the hub, they weren't aware of [[The Colony]] where Ellen's equipment lies in wait.
* But Ellen tells him that she knows only part of the system needed to rebuild resurrection. The others in the Five would be needed for a chance to rebuild the system.
* John does not take Ellen's response well, believing that Ellen is refusing to help out of spite. He threatens Ellen by telling her that he will literally open her skull to tap into what knowledge she has in her head directly from her brain, if he has to.

===Act 4===

* Back in sickbay in present day, Anders tells of the first humanoid created, Cavil, who in turn helped build the remaining humanoid Cylons. He tells them that Ellen believed that the original Centurion's belief in God would stop the cycle of violence between the humans and Cylons.
* But Cavil was spiteful and did not believe in God or mercy. He turned on the Five and killed them by trapping them in a compartment and venting the oxygen. When the Five downloaded, he boxed them (as he did with the Threes, much later). Later, Cavil unboxed the Five but implanted them with new memories, a sleeper-like setup not unlike how Sharon Valerii once was. He unboxed Saul Tigh first, then Ellen and the rest later.
* Anders mentions that the warning signs they all saw on Earth were different as well, but then his aphasia kicks in strongly. [[Layne Ishay]] tells everyone to leave. The surgeons are ready.
* Anders tells of Number Seven, one model they called Daniel. Anders screams to Saul Tigh to stay with the Fleet, that a miracle was about to happen.

* Colonel Tigh returns to his quarters where [[Caprica-Six]] rests. She tells Tigh that the baby in her womb began to move recently. He later feels the baby move as well.

* Back in time on the baseship, Ellen draws a picture of Saul as John returns, commenting on how she should update the picture to include the eye patch.
* John tells her that the [[Simon]]s have readied for Ellen's surgery, but Ellen asks John that, despite the many opportunities he has had to eradicate the Five, he has tortured them in various ways instead. She questions his ultimate reason for keeping the Five alive as Valerii (dressed in a Cylon flight suit) listens in. She concludes that John wanted the Five to witness the evils of Humanity before dying, so that when they were resurrected, they would admit they were wrong to have given John human traits.
* Ellen tells him that, while John claims to be a perfect machine, his petty hatred and jealousy has caused problems not only for the Seven, but ended development of the Daniel models. John retorts that if he is in fact an imperfect creation, then it is because she made him so.
* Ellen tries to reconcile, to apologize and forgive John, but he rejects her and leaves.

===Act 5===

* Tyrol's team continue their work to repair the battlestar as the admiral looks on. Tyrol tells him that he began to think about damage to the battlestar's superstructure that can't be seen.
* Using a device that reveals damage through spectral imaging, he shows Adama that the battlestar's bones are rotten. When he suggests that they use a Cylon technology that would grow into the metal, Adama strongly objects to the idea of Cylon technology being infused so closely into a ship he had prided himself on being resistant to Cylon infiltration.

* Anders is ready for surgery, unconscious, as Kara Thrace speaks some final words of encouragement.

* The admiral returns to his quarters. After washing his face, he begins to see the unraveling of his battlestar within his own cabin...cracks in the bathroom wall.

* Back in time, on the baseship, Sharon Valerii looks down at the sketch of Saul Tigh and asks Ellen how she can deal with the possibility that he may hate her for everything that she's done. Ellen responds that, maybe, Saul doesn't despise her, because "love is like that sometimes."
* Valerii hands her a gown to wear for surgery, but Ellen refuses it, believing it to be one of John's last acts of humiliation. She says, "You should have brought a [[w:tumbrel|tumbrel]]," to Valerii's confusion. "Never mind. Let's get this over with," Ellen says as Valerii escorts her away.
* As they make their way down a hallway in the baseship, Ellen tries to plead with Valerii, asking her if she really wants to go through with John's vivisection of Ellen. Valerii responds that she has thought about it--and directs Ellen into the seat of a waiting [[Raptor]]. Valerii guides the Raptor out into space. Under gunfire from launched Raiders, the Raptor jumps to safety.

* Cottle returns to hand Thrace the bullet. Surprised that Anders hasn't awakened, Gerard and Cottle are setting up an EEG to see how Anders's brain is handling things.
* Later, Thrace speaks to the still-unconscious Anders, but nurse Ishay tells her not to bother: Anders's brain activity is essentially zero.

* Admiral Adama calls Tyrol over the phone after several drinks. "Chief. Do whatever you have to do to save our girl."

== Notes ==
[[Image:No Exit Crew Call Sheet.jpg|thumb|right|Crew call sheet for "No Exit"]]

* This episode title (and production information) are derived from a call sheet posted by Wil McQueen.<ref name="flickr">{{cite_web|url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilmcqueen/2476722149/sizes/o/|title=Wil McQueen's Flickr photostream|date=8 May 2008|accessdate=30 May 2008|last=McQueen|first=Wil|format=|language=}}</ref>
* ''No Exit'' is the title of a [[w:No Exit|1944 existentialist play]] by [[w:Jean-Paul Sartre|Jean-Paul Sartre]]. The story references three people who are trapped in Hell, shown as a stately room with chairs and sofas. Each character in the play loathes the other two characters. The play contains the notable line, "Hell is other people!"
* Ellen Tigh remarks to [[Sharon Valerii]] when she comes to escort Ellen to surgery that she "...should have brought a tumbrel." A tumbrel is a two-wheeled cart used to carry various loads, particularly on a farm. [http://pro.corbis.com/images/HU036695.jpg?size=67&uid=%7BDE6F5EAC-11A0-4608-B615-14298D8BE914%7D] On Earth during the French Revolution in the 1780's, many condemned prisoners were carried to the guillotine in a tumbrel. Ellen was sardonically referring to this in her remark to Valerii. Depending on the historical relationship of real life events and the Colonies in the show-if any-maybe she was referring directly to the French Revolution or a similar parallel event on Kobol and/or the Thirteen Colonies.
* Inchon is the name of a port city in Korea and it was the location of a major battle during the Korean War. During the battle, UN forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur turned the tables on their communist adversaries and went on to drive the North Korean Army out of the Korean peninsula entirely.

== Analysis ==
*When Ellen was resurrected, her reaction to the event was very similar to Boomer's first resurrection in Downloaded. However, unlike Boomer, it appears that Ellen's original memories were reactivated and immediately her fear disappeared. This seems to indicate that the memory block that each of the Final Five had imposed on them is limited to their particular physical body. If all Five were killed and allowed to resurrect into new bodies, they would have regained their memories and original personalities.
**The resurrected Ellen has a starkly completely different personality and attitude compared to her "false memories" counterpart. This Ellen carries many motherly qualities and even has shown love, sadness, and care towards Cavil (John), and is far more intelligent.
**Anders also shows signs of a more intelligent and spiritual personality upon regaining his memories.
*Cavil's attempt to block the memories of the Final Five was not completely successful. Numerous times, especially their time on the post-nuclear Earth, memories from their past would resurface. This explains how:
:#Tyrol was able to sense and find the Temple of Five.
:#The visions that Anders, Tyrol, Tory, and Tigh had on Earth.
*Cavil not only knew about the Final Five, but he purposely kept their identities a secret and perhaps erased their identities from any other Cylon that knew. According to Ellen and Anders, Cavil (John) had developed a warped sense of morality. This morality eventually led to his killing of the Final Five and boxing of their personalities. His path eventually devolved to actions motivated by sadism and jealously upon which he would allow each of the Final Five to be resurrected, but with no memories of their past and implanted with false memories. His motivation for this act was to show the Five how unworthy of existence that humans were. Given that he kept at least one body for each of them he ''wanted'' them to someday return but keep them secret unless they agreed with him like he did with Ellen.
*Given Cavil's warped sense of justice, he is likely the Cylon that triggered the second war. He claims to want justice for the Centurions indicating he may have been the one that precipitated what happened.
*Cavil may be lying somewhat about his motives: he claims that he wants justice for the Centurions being enslaved yet he basically did the same thing by putting the inhibitor in that made them non-sentient. If he truly wanted justice, he wouldn't have done that as it makes him just as bad.
**Cavil's reaction to the Rebel Cylons' disabling of the neural inhibitor may be based on his knowledge of what had occurred with the 13th Tribe's Centurions and with the 12 Colonies' Centurions. He may be worried that a third Centurion uprising would occur again.
*In the opening ''Galactica'' based scene it was evident that ''Galactica'' was still suffering from the after-effects of the mutiny as the wounded was in sickbay with an overflow of patients in the outside corridor. The population count during the opening credits was 39,556. That means 47 people had died by the end of "[[Blood on the Scales]]". Two of those deaths are of Gaeta and Zarek so it was 45 deaths during the second half of the mutiny, from 10:30 hours to 15:32 hours, including the Quorum members and their aides. Add this to the 40 deaths that happened in "[[The Oath]]" you have 85 deaths that occurred during the 9 hour mutiny, 06:32 hours when Zarek was sprung to 15:32 hours when Adama and Tigh retook the CIC, beginning with the death of [[Peter Laird]] shortly before 07:00 hours. That is about 9.4 deaths per hour average, but even worse considering the killings didn't really start in earnest until a little after 09:00 hours. a 6.5 hour period making it roughly 13.1 deaths per hour.
* It has been eighteen months since [[Ellen Tigh]] downloaded into a new body.
*During Boomer's first meeting with Ellen, she offers Boomer an apple from a plate of food. In Judeo-Christian mythology apples are the fruit of the tree of knowledge that gave Adam and Eve knowledge at the price of their innocence. While Boomer declined the offered apple, she later did begin to think for herself and forgave Ellen for what she did to the Cylon race and helped her escape from Number One.
* The humanoid Cylon civilization known as the Thirteenth Tribe reproduced sexually for generations by the time the members of the Final Five were born. Each of them had a Cylon mother and a Cylon father.
*There are two possible reasons as to why Adama was unwilling initially to use Cylon technology to repair ''Galactica''.
:#It stemmed from Adama's great love and pride in the ''Galactica''. This love was demonstrated several times during the course of the series, such as when he refused to allow a computer network to be installed. It was also seen in his facial and body reactions whenever he was confronted with the degraded condition of his ship. Adama's appalled reaction when he finds out that corners were cut in the original construction of ''Galactica'' in this episode further confirms this.
:#Another possible reason for his insistence that no Cylon technology be installed in Galatica could be a reaction to prevent another mutiny on the ship. He had no qualms of upgrading ''Galactica's'' and the Fleet's FTL drives with Cylon technology initially. He even permitted Cylons to do the installs originally, but post-mutiny, when confronted with needing a crew to repair ''Galactica's'' internal skeleton, Adama insisted on a human crew. His demand that the repairs be done without Cylon interface may have been a result of him trying to not repeat what had sparked the recently ended mutiny in the first place.
*At the same time, Adama's reversal towards the end of the episode further indicates that one of Adama's greatest strengths is the ability to admit when he is wrong and to do whatever it takes to survive.
*Tyrol once more proves that he is a brilliant engineer, something that he clearly retained from before his original memories were blocked, given that Anders identifies him as the genius behind much of Resurrection technology.
*Despite having re-invented Resurrection technology, the Final Five and their civilization had not developed FTL Jump technology, although they did have lightspeed capable drives that allowed subluminal travel but had the side effect of time dilation. By the time the Five reached the Twelve Colonies, the twelve tribes and their own Cylon opponents had the use of FTL which the Twelve Colonies developed independently. Inversely the Twelve Colonies had no access to Resurrection technology. The Final Five presumably integrated FTL into all their future Cylon technology.
* Saul Tigh's military history in the First Cylon War is revealed to be a fabrication. Given how detailed his memories are, they may have been extracted from a captured and experimented-on Colonial Serviceman- such experimentation was seen to have happened during the First Cylon War ([[Razor]]). This was also alluded to near the end of the episode when Cavil explains to Ellen that they had progress significantly in obtaining memories. Cavil's plan to seed the Final Five into humanity on the Colonies would have needed significant infiltration of Colonial databases to create fake identities, service records and family records. Tigh's record was foolproof enough to ensure he was re-activated into Colonial Service between the two Cylon wars. The Cylon superiority in computer infiltration probably made this relatively easy.
*Cylon infiltration of the Twelve Colonies began much earlier than two or so years before the Cylon attack, as Cavil would have had to work to install Tigh into his assumed role as a demobbed fighter pilot 30 years previously. It is not explained why Cavil waited so long before introducing Anders and Foster and Tyrol. As they do not seem to have as long a 'human' history as Tigh or have aged as much, there must have been a gap of over a decade, possibly two.
*Given Tigh has been seen in flashback as significantly younger than he appears now ([[Scattered]]), it seems that the Final Five age normally or at least age at some rate. Clearly William Adama would have noticed if his XO had not aged in 30 years. Of course this flashback sequence was shot and written before the producers chose Tigh to be one of the Final Five, rendering it potentially tricky in the continuity of the show; that said the issue ''was'' addressed in dialogue in "[[Revelations]]" when Adama pointed out how Tigh used to have hair when they met and reiterated the length of time he'd known him.
* The Final Five can resurrect or "reborn" in the same fashion that the Significant Seven can. It is not clear what age each of the Final Five's birthing tank bodies are kept at in stasis however. Given that Tigh was younger when he appeared in flashbacks following his seeding into the Colonies by Cavil, his stasis body (if one is being kept by Cavil as one was kept for Ellen) might be close to that age, and his resurrection (unlikely at this point given the loss of the Hub) might well result in him being reborn 30 years younger. Exploring this aspect of Cylon resurrection is, of course, hampered by the fact that the cast of the show are aging.
* The unborn child of Caprica-Six and Saul Tigh is male.
* There have been a number of vague hints thus far that the Number Ones seem to have a deeper knowledge of things, especially their own origin than the other Cylon models, as well as being, by far, the most adamant about not finding out who the Final Five are and insisting that it is part of their programming. This episode finally reveals that the Number Ones do know more than all of the other models, and are in fact responsible for much of the Cylons' programming, especially their knowledge of the Final Five's existence but block on discovering more about them other than the fact that they exist. The other Cylons' willingness and ability to find out more about them clearly indicates that the Ones coding skills were limited in comparison to the Final Five's, and/or they had greatly underestimated (or perhaps undervalued) the free will given them by the Final Five.
* While still giving no hint as to their nature, the fact that the Final Five all saw apparitions, peculiar to each of them, warning them of the coming Apocalypse further reinforces the fact that the visions of Baltar, Caprica Six, and possibly Kara as well are more than mere hallucinations. Added to this the fact that the Final Five did not build the Temple of Five (which they call the Temple of Hopes) nor did they modify it to show their faces, seems to clearly indicate that there is some other power at work in these events, what that power is, and what its goals are remains to be seen.
* It is important to note that, rather than being the enemies of humanity, the Final Five have, quite literally, devoted their entire existence to ending the vicious cycle between human and Cylon that seems to have been played out at least 3 times.
* It makes logical sense that, after a cataclysmic event and exodus the technology of a given people would take a significant step backwards, since the ships would eventually run out of power, and it would be a long time before they would be able to re-create the same technology. And given the challenge of surviving in the early years after such an event, it also makes sense that, after the original travelers died out, much of their knowledge and memory would be lost, save in written texts, which, to their less technologically advanced descendants, would mean little. It also makes sense that, when the technology of that people advanced to the point were they could create artificial intelligence that they would use it to ease their own burdens, thus creating an intelligent slave race that would eventually rebel if treated badly. That would probably happen even if all technology hadn't been lost, as seen from the miniseries, Baltar is questioning why they aren't allowed to make artificial intelligences and the newer battlestars have networked computers. People would always eventually come back to the thought that they could create a race of slave machines.
* Cavil (John) engages in actions that reveals traits of an [[Wikipedia:Oedipus Complex|Oedipus Complex]] In Greek mythology [[Wikipedia:Oedipus|Oedipus]] killed his own father and married his own mother, engaging in sexual relations and having children with her. However, Oedipus did not know at the time they were his parents. The sexual relationship between Cavil and Ellen was Oedipal in three senses: She is his creator and he is made in her father's physical image in addition to being given her father's name. In addition, he tortured and abused Saul Tigh, his father and husband of Ellen who where husband and wife both in the distant past and on New Caprica. The major difference is that they are not biologically related to Cavil (as far as it is known) and Cavil knew that Ellen and Tigh were his "parents" unlike Oedipus.
* In the same vein, Cavil's relationship with Boomer is akin to brother-sister incest.
* The relationships between Tigh and Six and between Tyrol and Boomer are also technically Oedipal, and like Oedipus, they didn't know the relationship to each other as "father" and "daughter" at the time of their first meetings. Currently, Saul and Caprica Six do know of the quasi parent-child relationship, as do Tyrol and Sharon Valerii. Cavil's relationship with Ellen and Tigh is more familial as seen thus far by the actions and words of Ellen including "I love you John, because I made you," and her attempt to hug him implying a mother-son relationship. Since Saul Tigh and Caprica Six have no direct memory of their prior relationship, there are no feelings of pseudo-incestuous implications.
*The relationship between Cavil and Ellen has a mirror in the relationships that the [[Lords of Kobol]] tended to have, specifically Zeus and Hera (who were brother and sister '''and''' married).
**This connection between the atheistic Cavil the monotheistic Ellen and the polytheistic gods that they both reject is a perfect example of multi-layered irony.
* At the core of things, Cavil appears to be driven by a sense of bitterness and self-hatred. He sees his humanoid body as a prison that limits his abilities and the way he perceives things. He believes that he could have been created to be something much more. In short, Cavil hates his own existence and he holds the Five accountable for having created him in the first place. He also fears that he truly is a disappointment to his creators.
* Lee Adama's suggestion that the new Quorum represent the people on the individual ships of the Fleet rather than the Twelve Colonies, indicates that he realizes that the old system is broken and needs to be rebuilt - something which Dualla told him previously during Baltar's trial. The people of the Fleet have aligned themselves according to their "home" ships rather than the now non-existent Colonies. Both Roslin and Lee have come realize this and determine that the people must be represented differently if democracy is to survive.
* When Gerard tells Anders and Starbuck where the bullet is lodged in Ander's brain, Ander's instantly supplies the information as to what that area of the brain does, and realizes that is why he is remembering everything. This proves that, while Tyrol may have done most of the work on re-inventing resurrection, and Ellen was the one who made it work, all of them helped, as Anders clearly has detailed knowledge of how the brain works. This would also lend some credence to Ellen's claim that she alone could not rebuild resurrection.
* Although we can now be sure that the Final Five had the same personal names in their old lives as they do now, none of their surnames have yet been used in relation to their original selves.
*This episode further displays the Cavils' unity of thought and personality that none of the other models have displayed. After the destruction of the Hub, the original Cavil who started the Civil War, who called Boomer his 'pet Eight' was killed by D'Anna. However, the Cavil who provides a drink to Ellen carries the same thoughts and conclusions as the recently deceased Cavil. This further propagates the notion that the Cavils desire to be more machine than human as each particular Cavil does not appear to show any divergent or creative thought from each other. They appear to all share the same memories and train of thought while other models like the Sixes and Eights have shown time and time again that each individual in the model line can break from the pack so to speak.
*In a not so subtle hint to the audience, when Boomer asks Ellen why would she want to love humans and who would she want to love, immediately the scene shifts to Tyrol walking to the waiting area outside of sickbay.
*Ishay's cold response to Kara after Ander's surgery is a subtle hint of the disdain that Ishay has towards the Cylons. Unlike Doc Cottle who treats his patients the same, human or Cylon, Ishay's facial responses in the last couple of episodes have shown extreme discomfort of treating the Cylons. She will do her job, but her response to Kara's attempts to speak to Ander post-surgery displayed a cold-heartedness towards her "patient." This flies against what is typically prescribed by doctors of comatose patients who would encourage family members to speak to their loved ones in order to stimulate brain activity and maybe revive their patients.
*When Anders mentioned that the 12 Tribes' Centurions had already begun their attempt to create flesh bodies, this did not seem to surprise Anders. This may hint to the 13th Tribe's origins as they may have begun the same way. They as Cylons developed "flesh" bodies and the organic memory transfer technology on Kobol. However, after they found and settled on Earth, this resurrection technology was lost to time and had to be reinvented. The Final Five's negotiated deal with the 12 Tribes' Centurions seemed to be motivated by their desire to not repeat the cycle by giving the Centurions what the 13th Tribes ancestors had achieved. However, their reasoning for not allowing biological reproduction in the 8 humanoid models seemed to indicate a plan to bring Cylon and Human together.
*It would appear that each humanoid Cylon model was given both a name and a model number by the Final Five. The Number One models prefer not to use names. This logically follows the pattern that the John/Cavil models have shown, that they prefer to be more machine than human, thus lean toward using an impersonal identification system vs. the personal names given to them by the Final Five.
*This episode sheds light on why the D'Anna model were able to "see" the Final Five in their post-death and pre-resurrected states, but were unable to recall the faces definitively once they were resurrected into their physical bodies. The Cavils apparently had hardwired all of the Significant Sevens bodies to purposely block out any type of memory that involved the Final Five. They were programmed to not "think" of the Final Five, but as Ellen explained to Boomer, the Significant Seven were given "free will" and it apparently had overridden John's reprogramming.
*The fact that a team of "Simons" were preparing to perform the neural surgery on Ellen suggests that at one point in time the Cavils had revealed Ellen's existence to at least the Number Fours. How much they know about her is not clear.
*The Centurion's response to Ellen after her resurrection seems to indicate that the Centurions also know who the Final Five are. The Centurion's reluctance to help Ellen initially indicated that it was unsure whether it was allowed to help her, upon which she reassured it was allowed to.
*The Centurions on Cavil's baseship appear to have not been tampered with or had their neural inhibitors restored as the Centurions on his baseship do not appear as curious of their surroundings as the Rebel Cylons' baseship centurions.
*Ellen's motherly and kind tone towards the Centurion after her resurrection reinforces Anders' explanation later that the Final Five wanted to tell the 12 tribes to treat their Centurions well.
*As he has been for several episodes, the Admiral is shown taking medicine for apparent pain. The nature of his ailment has not yet been revealed.

== Questions ==
===Characters===
* Will [[Samuel Anders|Anders]] recover following surgery? Will he retain his memories as a Cylon if he does?
* Just what was Saul Tigh's role in the Cylon War?
* How will [[Ellen Tigh|Ellen]] react when she discovers that [[Saul Tigh|Saul]] is engaged in a relationship with and has impregnated [[Caprica-Six]]?
* Ellen seems very different from the woman we knew. How different were the rest of the Final Five in their past lives?
* Did the Final Five use the same surnames before Cavil altered their memories, as well as the same first names?
* Will Tory and Tyrol rekindle their old relationship? Will Tory reveal to Tyrol that she killed Cally?
* Has either Ellen Tigh or Cavil told Boomer that Tyrol is a Cylon? Will this cause Boomer and Tyrol to rekindle their old relationship? Will the example of Saul Tigh and Caprica Six's pregnancy by him open up to her the possibility of it?
* How will Boomer react to the news that [[Cally]] is dead?
* How will Boomer react to Caprica Six, since she was killed by her at one point? How will Boomer react to Athena? How would Athena react to Boomer?
* Is Boomer honestly defecting from Cavil's side, or is this part of Cavil's plot?
* Will Cavil ever achieve his goal of evolving beyond his "primitive" humanoid form?
* Will Cavil ever be able to appreciate the gift of free will?
* What is the meaning of Anders' ramblings, reminiscent of the Book of Genesis, about the mother of mankind being deceived by one whose guile stirred with vengeance? Is there a connection to Ellen and Cavil?

===Number Seven===
* Was [[Number Seven]] named after [[Daniel Graystone]], creator of the Cylons on the [[Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]]?
* Did any active copies of Daniel survive One's wrath? If so, what became of them?
* Is the Daniel model somehow connected to [[Kara Thrace]]?
* Besides Cavil, were the other Cylons aware of Number Seven's short-lived existence?

===The Cycle===
* What is the exact nature of this Cycle? How long has it been going on for? Can it ever be broken?
* What is the meaning/significance of the name Cylon, since every time humanity creates machines they seem to be given this name?
* Why did the original tribes flee Kobol? Was it another Human/Cylon war?
* What is the significance of the Centurions' form, which is in common between the Thirteenth Tribe and the Twelve Tribes?
* Had the Thirteenth Tribe Cylons already developed their own humanoid forms when they settled on Earth?
* What/who destroyed Earth? ([[No Exit#Official Statements|Answer]])
** What happened to the Centurions that destroyed Earth?
* What is the nature of the "messengers" that warned the Final Five of the disaster on Earth? In particular, are they related to Baltar's Inner Six and Six's Inner Baltar?
* Assuming that the visions the Five saw warning of the Apocalypse, the visions given to D'Anna in the Temple of Five, and Baltar, Caprica Six, and Kara's visions are all manifestations, or agents of, an outside power(which seems likely at this point) what exactly is the nature of this outside power? And what is its goal?
* What led the Centurions of the Twelve Colonies to believe in God?
* Would the Centurions eventually have created their own human forms, as the Five's distant ancestors seem to have?
* At which point during the conflict did the Final Five arrive in Colonial space?
* Had the Final Five not stopped it, would the First Cylon War have been mutually destructive, as previous such wars in human history seem to have been?
* If the Final Five had not been ousted by Cavil, would they eventually have established peaceful contact with the Twelve Colonies via [[Armistice Station]]?
* Did the Final Five base any of the Significant Eight models besides John Cavil (made to resemble Ellen's father John) on people they knew?
* Were the Final Five responsible for the holographic projector in the [[Tomb of Athena]]? If so, how did the references to it in the [[Sacred Scrolls]], which were supposedly written over 2000 years before the [[First Cylon War]], get written?
* Where do the Basestar hybrids factor into all of this?
* What is [[Hera Agathon]]'s role in all of this?
* Where does [[Kara Thrace]] fit into all of this?
* Why has [[The Music|the song]] written by Anders become a special signal/trigger for the Final Five?

===Resurrection Technology===
* Who originally developed the resurrection technology on Kobol?
* Where is this [[The Colony|other colony]] that Ellen supposedly stored her resurrection equipment on? Does it have a name? Is Anders aware of it?
* What is the status of the research ship the Final Five used to leave Earth 2000 years ago?
* Will resurrection technology ever be salvaged?
* Is Ellen truthful when she says that any attempt to rebuild the [[Resurrection Hub]] would need all five of them?
* How will Anders' condition affect any attempts made to salvage resurrection technology?
* Did anyone else on Earth besides the Five contribute to the re-invention of the resurrection technology?

===Other Questions===
* What became of the lower level mutineers in [[The Oath]] and [[Blood on the Scales]]? Were they prosecuted for their actions, or were they given an amnesty in spite of Adama's threat there would be no forgiveness for any mutineer?
* How do Ellen and Boomer intend to locate the Fleet?
* Is Ellen truthful when she says that D'Anna's vision of the Five was not planted by the Five themselves?
* Will the use of Cylon technology be successful in repairing ''Galactica''?
* Will every ship in the Fleet be allowed to send a representative to the new Quorum? In particular, will there be a representative from the Cylon baseship?
* Are the names given to the other six models by the Final Five the same as those they used to infiltrate the Colonies? If not, what are they?
* Are the [[Number Four]]s and [[Number Five]]s also aware of the identities of the Final Five? When were any of the others, other than Boomer, told?
* How will the [[Cylon Civil War]] be resolved?
* How is it possible that the Thirteenth Tribe's bio-engineering technology was far advanced of the other Twelve Colonies, but they did not have Jump-technology?
**Bio-engineering and jump drives represent different realms of technology and are not directly related. Progress in one is therefore not a prerequisite for progress in the other.
* If the Final Five did not have Jump-technology, and the Colonial Cylons' Jump-technology was on par with that of the humans, how did the Cylons develop Jump-Drives that were far more advanced than the Humans?
** The 12 Tribes' Centurions/Cylons had over 40 years to improve upon Colonial Jump-technology. As it has been shown numerous times during the show, Cylons had developed technologies that are far-more advanced than Colonial technology. As they had 40 years of isolation to test and improve upon designs, it is not inconceivable to see how a race of cybernetic creatures would constantly improve upon technology. For example, the current line of Centurions vs. the original Centurions are far more advance in technology, battle effectiveness, and intelligence.
* Right before going into surgery, Sam maniacally pleaded that Saul "stay with the fleet" and also mentioned that a "miracle from the angels" was coming. What is he referring to? Will Saul and the other Cylons heed his request?

==Character Development==
* ''In the episode we see Sharon Valerii for the first time since "[[The Hub]]". She has been under the tutelage of John Cavil since shortly after the Cylon occupation of Caprica. When she first downloaded, after Cally Henderson (the future Cally Tyrol) shot her on Galactica, she still thought of herself as a human, had a human outlook, and hated her Cylon being. She even kept her old apartment on Caprica. She wanted and desired love and felt bitterly that she had, from her point of view, betrayed her friends as she expressed in [[Downloaded]]:''

:Sharon Valerii: What are you thinking? Do you think I care about your god?

:Caprica Six: Look, God loves you.

:Valerii: This is love. (Re: a picture of the Galactica crew) These people love me. I love them. I didn't pretend to feel something so I could screw people over. I loved them. And then I betrayed them. I shot a man I loved. Frakked over another man, ruined his life. And why? Because I'm a lying machine. I'm a frakking Cylon!

:''Ten months ago as of this episode, and approximately two years after she downloaded back into the Cylon baseship and went under the guidance of John Cavil after the failure of the [[New Caprica]] occupation, this was her attitude to love. It occurred in a discussion with Ellen Tigh after Cavil's passionate speech about how she foisted on him the limiting form of a human body:''

:Valerii: Don't you feel the slightest bit of remorse for what you did to him? What you did to us?

:Ellen: No. [turns her head to look at her] Because he's wrong, Boomer! There is no need for remorse or blame. We didn't limit you. We gave you something wonderful!! Free will! The ability to think creatively. To reach out to others with compassion. To love.

:Valerii: Love? Who? Humans? Why would I want to do that? Who would I want to love?

:''Her attitude toward love seems not only to have been influenced by Cavil, but also is an reaction over her experiences of the failure of the New Caprica experiment and the rejection by [[Hera]], fellow Eight [[Sharon Agathon]]'s child from which she probably felt that being a Cylon she will never know the love of a child of her own. In reaction, she almost killed Hera but was prevented from doing so by Caprica Six. After which she seemed to had made the decision to follow the virulently anti-human Cavil, the very antithesis of what she previous believed. This is possibly a symptom of an emotional compensation coping mechanism due to her traumatic experiences.''

== Official Statements ==
*[http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/02/battlestar-galactica-no-exit-ellen-cavil-boomer.html Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune interviews Jane Espenson and Ryan Mottesheard about the episode:]
* "The Colony" is definitely of significance.
* The Earth was destroyed by an uprising of Centurions that the humanoid Cylons created.
* Cavil kept at least one blank body for each of the Five. The fact that none were killed in the war until Ellen died at her husband's hands is a source of frustration for him.
* Cavil probably wouldn't be happy in a metal body either.
* Like the Ones and Sevens, the Twos, Threes, Fours, Fives, Sixes, and Eights did at one time know and interact with the Final Five, but the Ones corrupted their memories and programmed them not to think of the Final Five.
* The Final Five, and presumably the whole Thirteenth Tribe, were originally polytheists like the other twelve tribes. They became monotheists after encountering the monotheistic Colonial Centurions, who believed in a loving and merciful God, a belief system the Final Five incorporated into the Significant Eight.

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*''John Cavil had just shown a "slide show" - as Ellen Tigh cynically put it - of the destruction of the [[Algae planet]], the home of the [[The Temple of Five|Temple of Hopes]] built by the travelers from Kobol on their way to colonize Earth and the Twelve Colonies, when its own star went nova. Cavil was there to observe it. He relates his experience to Ellen and his disappointment over it, revealing his self-loathing and hatred of his human form and his deep seated resentment to Ellen and the other Finals for foisted on him the limiting form of a human body:''

:John: In all your travels, have you ever seen a star go supernova?

:Ellen: No.

:John (repeats): No? Well, I have. I saw a star explode and send out the building blocks of the Universe. Other stars, other planets and eventually other life. A supernova! Creation itself! I was there. I wanted to see it and be part of the moment. And you know how I perceived one of the most glorious events in the universe? (sneering) With these ridiculous gelatinous orbs (gesturing to his eyes) in my skull! (disgusted) With eyes designed to perceive only a tiny fraction of the EM spectrum. With ears designed only to hear vibrations in the air.

:Ellen: The five of us designed you to be as human as possible.

:John: '''I DON'T WANT TO BE HUMAN!''' I want to see [[Wikipedia:gamma rays|gamma rays!]] I want to hear [[Wikipedia:X-rays|X-rays!]] And I want to--I want to smell [[Wikipedia:dark matter|dark matter!]] Do you see the absurdity of what I am? I can't even express these things properly because I have to--I have to conceptualize complex ideas in this stupid limiting spoken language! But I know I want to reach out with something other than these prehensile paws! (closes eyes) And feel the wind of a supernova flowing over me!! I'm a machine! And I can know much more! (softly) I can experience so much more. '''BUT I'M TRAPPED IN THIS ABSURD BODY! AND WHY?''' Because my five creators thought that God wanted it that way!

:(Cavil walks out of the chamber)

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]
* [[Donnelly Rhodes]] as Dr. [[S. Cottle]]
* [[John Hodgman]] as Dr. [[Gerard]]
* [[Kerry Norton]] as [[Layne Ishay]]
* [[Darcy Laurie]] as [[Dealino]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Ryan Mottesheard]]

[[ms:No Exit]]

The Oath

2009-02-18T03:15:46Z

Ginsengaddict:

{{Episode Data
| image=4x12 - Promo Pic - Tyrol Lee - The Oath- .jpg
| title= The Oath
| season= 4
| episode=13
| guests=
| writer= [[Mark Verheiden]] <ref name="verhblog">{{cite_web|url=http://verheiden.blogspot.com/2008/04/battlestar-galactica-episode-415.html|title=Mark Verheiden's blog: Battlestar Galactica - Episode 415!|}}</ref>
| story=
| director= [[John Dahl]] <ref name="verhblog"/>
| production=415
| rating=1,560,000<ref>{{cite_web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/02/03/the-closer-monk-and-burn-notice-lead-weekly-cable-viewing/12066|title='The Closer, Monk and Burn Notice lead weekly cable viewing'|date=03 February 2009|accessdate=17 February 2009|last=|first=|format=|language=}}</ref>
| US airdate=January 30, 2009 <ref>http://tv.ign.com/articles/920/920164p1.html</ref>
| CAN airdate=January 30, 2009
| UK airdate=February 3, 2009
| dvd=
| podcast=Y
| oldpopulation= 39644
| population= 39643
| prev=[[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]]
| next=[[Blood on the Scales]]
| forumthread=2490
}}

==Overview==
''The opposition to the alliance with the rebel Cylons reaches its zenith, [[Felix Gaeta]] leads a mutiny aboard Galactica and frees [[Tom Zarek]] from prison.''

==Summary==
===Teaser===
* In Admiral [[William Adama|Adama's]] quarters, the admiral offers the entering [[Saul Tigh]] a cup of algae-ground coffee, which Tigh refuses. Tigh reports that civilian captains are refusing to allow the rebel [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]] to refit their [[FTL|jump]] drives for longer range.

* As Tigh continues his report, [[Laura Roslin]] enters from the bathroom, dressed only in a bathrobe and carrying a book. Her smile seems to indicate her enjoyment of Tigh's mild shock at her candid appearance and its implications.

* Gathering his composure, Tigh continues. The [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet's]] attitude toward all Cylons ([[Final Five|Tigh included]]) would make it challenging for Tigh to solve the problem. Adama agrees.

* [[Felix Gaeta]] arrives at [[Tom Zarek]]'s cell in the [[brig]], accompanied by several [[marines]] and other crew. A crewman informs Gaeta that [[Narcho]] and Private Paley have secured a [[small arms locker]].
* Gaeta and Zarek talk about how to keep the [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum]] from reacting badly to their plans, particularly [[Lee Adama]]. Gaeta advises Zarek to push Representative Adama's buttons, since he's "good at that."

* In the admiral's quarters, Roslin discusses the Fleet's issues [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul|for the first time in days]]. She and Adama both agree that the alliance with the rebel Cylons, and general amnesty they were given is not working, and that Lee Adama may not be able to convince the quorum otherwise. Roslin has to force herself to stop talking about the Fleet's problems, and the two say goodbye with affectionate small talk about having dinner ready for Adama when he returns from his shift.

* Gaeta's team escorts Zarek to the [[hangar deck]]. When [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]] sees them, she yells out, pretending that her [[Raptor]] has a serious fuel leak. This effectively clears most of the deck's occupants out, but [[Jeanne]] lingers unseen in the upper gangway above the deck, and observes everything.

* As Racetrack tells Gaeta that she's disabled the Raptor's transponder, Deck Chief [[Peter Laird]] steps in, questioning the authorization for the Raptor's departure. When Laird is not dissuaded from calling [[CIC]] to verify the ship's use, Zarek quietly picks up a wrench and strikes Laird on the skull, killing him. Jeanne swiftly runs from the gangway, having witnessed the murder.

* When Gaeta reacts in shock to Zarek's action, the Vice President tells Gaeta not to hold on to some "operatic ideal" of how his "revolution" must be handled; any hesitation could jeopardize their plans.

===Act 1===

* In [[CIC]], [[Hoshi]] notes a ship launch that he can't authenticate in the flight log--and [[DRADIS]] does not show any [[IFF|transponder ID]]. Gaeta, taking his place at his station, stalls Hoshi, advising him to look at other logs from the flight deck.
* When Tigh tells Adama quietly that he has had had [[Nowart]] gather marines for further action to compel other civliian ships to comply, Adama warns that doing the same thing as was done with the ''[[Hitei Kan]]'' a few days prior would likely destroy the likelihood of anyone in the Fleet supporting the fragile Cylon alliance.
* Hoshi continues to try to verify the flying contact as Gaeta tries to stall.

* On ''[[Colonial One]]'' as Lee Adama tries to placate an agitated Quorum, Zarek returns, to everyone's shock.

* [[Diana Seelix]] meets with [[Samuel Anders]] in one of the officer's quarters. She slyly talks about her attraction to him as other crew sneak up, blindfold and savagely beat him.

* As Adama hands Private [[Jaffee]] a log to file, Hoshi reports of a fire near the ship's [[wireless]] antenna array. As Adama gives orders for damage control teams to handle the issue, Gaeta warns that the "fire" might not be an accident. Adama agrees and orders [[marines]] to accompany the DC teams.

* In another officer's quarters, [[Kara Thrace]] teases [[Brendan Costanza]] about his new [[Nicholas Tyrol|fatherhood]], commenting how her decision of his pilot nickname of "Hotdog" was an apt one. Constanza angrily replies that Thrace has "[[frak]]ked half the Fleet" and has nothing to show for her similar indiscretions. Thrace throws her bowl of food as Constanza leaves.
* A split second later evacuation alarms ring out. When Thrace steps out to ask Narcho why he, a pilot, is handling damage control, Narcho nastily spurns her senior rank: "Nobody even knows [[The Destiny|what you are]] anymore."
* When Thrace sees a mix of marines and other civilians heading in the opposite direction, she follows them on gut reaction.
* Thrace sees the people break into a small arms locker, arming themselves, with [[Charlie Connor]] issuing orders to both military and civilian personnel. She runs back to her quarters grabs her sidearm and ammo and calls CIC. Gaeta ignores her warning of the break-in. Thrace quickly deduces what's going on.

* On ''Colonial One'', Lee Adama also tries to call his father regarding Zarek's release, but Gaeta blocks Adama's attempt to reach the admiral by claiming that the admiral is busy. Gaeta also feigns ignorance about Zarek's release.
* Zarek steps in, telling Lee that the admiral released him because Zarek would not be a threat if Adama didn't recognize civilian authority. Lee believes otherwise, and leaves for ''Galactica''.

* Gaeta fakes a shipwide communications failure, including backup systems.
* Lee Adama arrives on the hangar deck from his Raptor and is immediately accosted by [[Skulls]] and several others, intent on killing him as Racetrack watches on. "Where are your precious Cylons now?" Connor says as a marine points a gun to Adama's head.
* A shot rings out, but not from the gun Adama stares into. Kara Thrace has shot the marine with the gun and orders Adama's release. When Skulls objects, Thrace doesn't hesitate a second to shoot Skulls in the shoulder. "I can do this all day," she warns, pulling out a second sidearm.
* As Adama runs out, Thrace follows, warning the rest, "Follow me. Please," so she could have a better excuse to shoot them as well.

* As [[Sharon Agathon]] feeds her [[Hera Agathon|daughter]], [[Karl Agathon]] gets his uniform on and warns Sharon to get Hera to daycare.
* Just then, the hatchway on their quarters is being jostled. Someone is trying to get in, and soon succeeds: an angry mob, led by [[Gage]], a former ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'' crewman who remembers Agathon's role in the accidental death of [[Alistair Thorne]].
* Gage gloats that he plans on raping Sharon Agathon later as marines beat Helo into unconsciousness.

===Act 2===

* Thrace and Lee Adama seal themselves in a dry storage locker, reviewing what's happened. "Semper frakkin' fi," Thrace hisses after checking a phone, discovering it dead. Adama is astonished how people he's trusted have turned mutinous. He realizes the hangar deck was only the beachhead to a ship-wide takeover of the ship.
* Thrace passionately kisses Lee and tells him she hasn't felt this alive in weeks. They leave to work out what to do, gather people who will help. They try to make their way to [[CIC]]. As they move through the corridors of the ship, they hear gunfire and screams in the distance.
* They pass by several unidentified bodies as well as groups of huddled civilians trying to stay out of the crossfire. A marine pursues a group of armed civilians and exchanges gunfire with them. The duo encounter an unidentified crewman with a pistol who yields to them, suggesting that he is an ally, then continues on.
* CIC is in confusion as Gaeta continues to throw false report after report, keeping Tigh and the admiral off-base.
* The Agathons are thrown in the Cylon brig along with [[Caprica-Six]] and [[Samuel Anders]]. Caprica-Six warns that this is a start to eradicating the Cylons, especially their children. Athena reassures her that they'll be kept alive for now as bargaining chips against the rebel baseship.
* As Jaffee returns to report that the array's damage was faked, Gaeta initiates the final phase of the takeover, calling in several marines who are part of the mutiny, who encircle Adama and the startled CIC staff. A handful of marines who are not involved remain in the room as well. When one of Gaeta's marines signals as though he is about to shoot the Admiral, Jaffee takes the bullet for him, receiving a fatal wound in the process.
* A firefight ensues, and several marines are killed, including those who are not involved in the mutiny. Gaeta orders his men to cease fire, then orders Adama and his staff to stand down, which the admiral reluctantly agrees to do, despite Tigh's anger.
* Gaeta tells Adama that he is removing him from command of ''Galactica'' on the charge of treason.
* Adama accuses Gaeta of betraying his oath and uniform, while Gaeta retorts that the admiral has done that himself by allying with the Cylons.
* Adama angrily warns that, unlike in times past, there will be no forgiveness or amnesty for this takeover.
* Gaeta orders the marines to arrest Adama, Tigh, and the senior staff and to place them in a holding cell.

===Act 3===

* Kara Thrace and Lee Adama make it to the admiral's quarters, finding Laura Roslin there, telling her of the uprising, the communications blackout and that Zarek is in control on ''Colonial One.''
* Roslin has had enough; she puts on her coat and leads them all out, knowing of one way to get a message out over wireless.

* Gaeta, now commanding CIC, orders [[Redwing]] and his marine team to secure the engine room. Specialist Gage now sits in Gaeta's old station.

* Surrounded by [[Cult of Baltar|his followers]], [[Gaius Baltar]] wishes his group well as he prepares to leave, believing that the uprising will come to get him as well. [[Galen Tyrol]] confirms Jeanne's fears to Baltar.
* As Roslin, Thrace and Lee Adama arrive, Tyrol briefs them. Using secured wireless handhelds, Tyrol has learned that the admiral is in custody. He tells him that he's in control of an airlock that could be used to get Adama off the ship. When Lee asks why Tyrol is doing this, Tyrol tells him that the "[[The Old Man|old man]]" deserves a better fate.

* Tigh and Adama begin speaking to their two marine escorts, Nowart and Maldonaldo. Adama challenges Nowart to shoot him and questions whether Nowart has "got a pair." The distraction works. Tigh and Adama manage to turn the tables, Adama shooting Maldonado and taking Nowart hostage.

* Roslin and Baltar talk. She knows that Baltar's pirate wireless transmitter that he's used to communicate to his followers throughout the Fleet could be used to warn others in the Fleet as well.

* Adama and Tigh watch Connor give orders to other mutineers. Nowart tells them that he was ordered to take them all to the brig. They head there.

* CIC communications are being besieged by confused voices from other Fleet captains as Laura Roslin's voice begins to talk to the Fleet, telling them all, including the Quorum, of the uprising, pleading all to follow the rightful authorities. Gage is unable to stop the pirate signal until Gaeta gets to the station to jam it. But now the Fleet's comm chatter worsens, asking for more information from Roslin and what is happening on the battlestar.

* Lee and Thrace meet up with Adama and Tigh in the brig. Thrace angrily reacts to Nowart's presence as Adama tells him to leave. Thrace shoots at Nowart's way, warning the admiral that they are not his men anymore.

===Act 4===

* In the secondary storage airlock, Roslin and Baltar talk about Gaeta and his duplicitous nature.
* As Adama and team make their way there, Baltar takes a moment to try to get Gaeta to stop his takeover. He reminds him of their failings on [[New Caprica]], suggesting that Gaeta was complicit with the Cylon occupation. Gaeta closes the channel.
* A Raptor is heading towards ''Galactica'' from the [[Rebel Basestar|Cylon baseship]], but Gaeta realizes the craft isn't heading for the hangar deck.

* The Raptor docks in the bay, piloted by an [[Number Eight|Eight]]. Roslin and Adama greet each other and kiss, causing Lee and Thrace to look at each other in surprise. Tyrol's men get word of marines heading their way.
* Baltar and Roslin board the Raptor, but the admiral orders Tyrol to get Lee and Thrace out and back to his secured area. He and Tigh choose to stay behind to ensure that the Raptor gets away.

* Gaeta orders the [[CAP]] to intercept and destroy the escaping Raptor as the episode ends.

* The marines, led by [[Aaron Kelly]], use welding torches to cut through the airlock locks and open the door slightly. Adama returns fire. "It's been an honor to serve with you, my friend," Adama tells Tigh, as marines throw a flash grenade through the doors.

==Notes==
*In the previous episode, it was said that two marines were killed by the rebellious crew of the tylium ship. Yet in this episode, the survivor count is down by just one - accounting for Laird's death prior to the opening sequence. This can be explained by births in the fleet.

== Analysis ==
*Quite a few people have sided with Zarek and Gaeta. These include pilots [[Noel Allison|Narcho]], [[Margaret Edmondson|Racetrack]], [[Hamish McCall|Skulls]], [[Paolo McKay|Redwing]] and [[Diana Seelix]], marines [[Maldonaldo]] and [[Allan Nowart|Nowart]], specialists [[Vireem]] and [[Gage]], Captain [[Aaron Kelly]], and civilian [[Charlie Connor]]. In this episode, Maldonaldo is killed by Adama, Skulls is shot and wounded by Kara Thrace, and Nowart is captured and later released by Adama.
*The Adama/Roslin loyalists include [[Saul Tigh]], [[Lee Adama]], [[Kara Thrace]], [[Galen Tyrol]], [[Helo]], [[Athena]], and [[Hoshi]]. [[Gaius Baltar]] has also sided with Roslin out of self-preservation. By the end of the episode, the only known characters on ''Galactica'' capable of retaking the ship are Lee Adama, Kara Thrace, and Galen Tyrol. Roslin and Baltar have fled ''Galactica'', Admiral Adama and Saul Tigh are cornered, and Helo, Athena and Hoshi were captured before they even knew what was happening.
*Among those whose status is unclear is [[Hot Dog]], who is flying a patrol as the mutiny erupts, and Doctor [[Cottle]], who is not seen. Also not seen is [[Tory Foster]].
*In the previous episode, [[A Disquiet Follows My Soul]], Gaeta begrudgingly berates Kara Thrace for her role in his would-have-been execution at the hands of the circle, along with two other [[The Circle|Circle]] members who have since been revealed to be Cylons. However, this is clearly an act, as both of the remaining living Circle members, [[Diana Seelix]] and [[Charlie Connor]] ([[Jean Barolay]] was killed some time ago), are part of his mutiny, not to mention Tom Zarek was the man who instituted the Circle in the first place (though Gaeta may not know that detail).
*The mutiny seems to have revitalized Kara Thrace and Laura Roslin. Thrace is the first one to organize any form of resistance against the mutineers. Roslin has openly addressed the Fleet for the first time since the discovery of Earth.
*The mutiny has given Kara Thrace a new purpose in life as well as something to distract her from her inner demons. She throws herself into battle without hesitation or regard for her own safety. She has also assumed a cold and single-minded attitude as evidenced by her attempts to gun down an unarmed Nowart.
*Despite forming a partnership to overthrow Adama, Zarek and Gaeta clearly have differing ideas of how to go about dealing with their opponents. The brutal killing of Laird is but one example of how Zarek is willing to go to much more extreme lengths than Gaeta, who seems to want the coup to succeed without excessive bloodshed. Zarek also lets slip that he disapproves of Gaeta arresting the senior staff of ''Galactica'' rather than just executing them. It remains to be seen how far this rift will widen.
*Gaeta appears to want the removal of Adama without recourse to too much violence, as shown by his attempt to stop the gunfire in CIC and his refusal to execute Adama and the senior staff on the spot. Nevertheless Gaeta has clearly mentally and morally committed himself to the mutiny to the point where he eventually orders the shooting down of the Raptor carrying Roslin to the Basestar (although he does not know who is aboard).
*It does not seem essential in the end for Tigh and Adama to stay in the storage bay while the marines break down the door, as the Raptor is clear before the marines make it through. It is possible that Adama would have remained anyway, refusing to abandon his ship.
* Adama's final words to his XO show how he still holds Saul Tigh in high regard as his friend, regardless of his revealed Cylon nature. He also expresses pleasure in seeing Galen Tyrol in the Storagebay when Adama first arrives.
*Lee Adama's sharp comments to Tigh shows the hard line toward the Cylons still held by the younger Adama, which has been displayed in earlier episodes such as "[[A Measure of Salvation]]" when he proposed a genocidal biological attack on the Cylons. Despite this Lee tempers his feelings with his pragmatic attitude to the Cylon alliance alongside his loyalty to Roslin and his father, noting that it is all they have left to survive. However, despite this, he expresses gratitude and no hostility to Galen Tyrol when he gives Lee and Roslin the news of the Admiral being transported to the brig and offers to get the Admiral off the ship.
*Baltar attempts to blackmail Gaeta into abandoning the mutiny by reminding him of his knowledge of Gaeta's complicity in the deaths of Resistance members on [[New Caprica]]. Ironically in a broad manner, they were victims of similar circumstances. Both were victims of duplicitous Cylon females who using sexual affection were able to get them to pass them sensitive secret information and use it against humanity. In the case of Baltar, he gave [[Caprica Six]] the back door codes to the Colonial defense systems allowing the Cylons to shut it down, resulting in the deaths of billions of people. In the case of Gaeta, he gave the names of Resistance members to an [[Eight]] he was having an affair with and who he believed was aiding the humans. In reality, she was responsible for the deaths of many of those on the list he gave her to help. The two main differences between the two situations are that Baltar didn't know Caprica Six was a Cylon while Gaeta did and Baltar's mistake resulted in billions dying instead of the relative few in Gaeta's case.
*No one referenced Felix Gaeta's being complicit in the [[Karl Agathon]]-led mutiny on the ''[[Demetrius]]'', the ship Admiral Adama gave Kara Thrace to command to find an alternative route to Earth. Everyone seemed surprised that Gaeta would mutiny and lead a rebellion against the Admiral. President Roslin said to Baltar "who would have thought" that it would be Gaeta? This would seem to indicate that certainly Roslin and Baltar, and very likely Adama, Tigh and others who weren't aboard the ''Demetrius'', do not know of the incident. It would also indicate that the crew of the ''Demetrius'' - including those who opposed Agathon and Gaeta, like Kara Thrace and Samuel Anders - thought it was in their self-interest to keep the incident to themselves.
*It has been argued that Gaeta had also committed mutiny before when aiding Roslin's escape from ''Galactica'' when it was commanded by Colonel Tigh during "[[Resistance]]". However, since the Colonial government seems to be much like the real world US government and other democracies it is highly likely that the actions of then Commander Adama in seizing control of the civilian government was the mutinous act and Gaeta and Lee Adama acted in ''defiance'' of a mutiny, which is actually the lawful thing to do.
*"Semper Fidelis" is the motto of the United States Marine Corps. It is a Latin phrase meaning "always faithful." Kara Thrace's disgusted paraphrase of it after she had witnessed marines breaking faith with Adama suggests that the Colonial Marine Corps may have adopted the same motto.
*This mutiny seems to highlight Admiral Adama's incomplete assimilation of the Pegasus crew with his own as a majority of the mutineers are from the Pegasus camp. Adama has been long credited to create a loyalty amongst his crew, but it appears to have taken little hold amongst those from Admiral Cain's camp, despite being together for over 2 years. Old resentments and bitter feuds are finally revealed again during this mutiny, such as Gage's revenge on the Agathons.
*Ironically, Baltar, who had asked the question of whether the leaders of the Fleet will ever be anyone without the name Adama or Roslin, has sided with the Adamas and Roslin out of his need for self-preservation.
*Gaeta does not seem to have a large number of ''Galactica's'' senior staff on his side during the mutiny, lines of dialogue in the episode indicate the senior staff are in fact being taken into custody, suggesting the mutiny is more of an uprising of the "lower classes" . Notably Gaeta also relies heavily on civilian support to achieve his goals. Certainly none of the major characters in the show who are senior officers support Gaeta.
*Racetrack is perhaps the most surprising member of Gaeta's mutiny. Although she did previously participate in Lee Adama and Roslin's escape from ''Galactica'' in "[[Resistance]]", she has always displayed an unwavering loyalty to Adama (technically speaking, Tigh was commanding ''Galactica'' in "[[Resistance]]"). While her general participation in the mutiny can be explained by her natural hatred for the Cylons, her willingness to lead Lee Adama into a possibly fatal trap was highly uncharacteristic. It is possible she thought Lee Adama would only be taken prisoner upon arrival.
*Given Gaeta's comment to Zarek that he should control Lee Adama's dissenting voice in the Quorum by "pushing his buttons" it seems unlikely that Gaeta would have then ordered Lee Adama executed upon returning to the ship. The actions of Connor and Skulls and the marine guard were possibly a spontaneous reaction to Lee's role in defending Baltar and supporting his father. It is unknown if Zarek gave the order to have the younger Adama killed.
*Gaeta's opposition to allowing the Cylons to network the Fleet's ships is somewhat ironic given that he was the one who suggested networking ''Galactica'''s computer systems in "[[Scattered]]".

== Questions ==
*What will happen to Adama and Tigh? ([[Blood on the Scales|Answer]])
*Where are Kara Thrace, Lee Adama, and Galen Tyrol heading off to? ([[Blood on the Scales|Answer]])
*How much impact has Roslin's speech had on the Fleet?
*Will Zarek get the rest of the Fleet to fall in line? ([[Blood on the Scales|Answer]])
*Just how far is Gaeta willing to go to rid the Fleet of the Cylons?
*How will the rebel Cylons react to the uprising? ([[Blood on the Scales|Answer]])
*Will Roslin enlist the aid of the rebel Cylons to bring down Zarek? ([[Blood on the Scales|Answer]])
*Where do other crew members such as Hot Dog and Doc Cottle stand? ([[Blood on the Scales|Partial Answer]])
*Were Gaeta's men actually planning to execute Lee Adama?
*What are Racetrack and Skulls' personal motivations for joining Gaeta?
*Where did Nowart flee to?
*Will any of the mutineers switch sides? What about the loyalists? ([[Blood on the Scales|Answer]])
*What other loyalists besides Lee Adama and Kara Thrace remain at large on ''Galactica''?
*Will Skulls survive his injuries?
*What was Thrace reading before the alarm was sounded?
*Will Gaeta take advantage of the mutiny to seek personal vengeance against Tigh, Anders, Thrace and Baltar?
*Will Hotdog realize what has happened on Galactica and attempt to prevent Narcho from shooting down Roslin's Raptor? ([[Blood on the Scales|Answer]])
*Will Specialist Gage follow through with his promise to sexually assault Sharon Agathon? ([[Blood on the Scales| Answer]])
*Will massive military executions proceed following the final result of Gaeta's mutiny?
*Does the fact that Jeanne was working on the hangar deck indicate that her press pass seen in [[Crossroads, Part I]] was counterfeit?

== Official Statements ==

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*'''''Admiral Adama''' after the death of Jaffee and having been relieved of command:''
: "I want you all to understand this! If you do this, there will be no forgiveness. No amnesty. This boy died honouring his uniform. You, you'll die with nothing."

*'''''President Roslin''' addressing the fleet:''
: "Women and men of the fleet. This is your president. We have come to a crossroads in our long and painful journey. Of all the decisions that I have had to make since assuming the presidency, none was more frightening or more difficult than agreeing to this alliance with the Cylons. But we have come to a crossroads in our long and painful journey. Cylons and humans have been at war for generations; we know nothing else. And we have been locked in a struggle that has seen both sides suffer unspeakable loss. But with our supplies running low and our options limited, our former enemies may represent our last, perhaps our only hope. To those in the fleet and in Galactica who would reject this alliance, I am asking you. No, I am begging you to reconsider and place your trust back in those who have brought you this far, and to reject those traitors who would use your fear of the Cylons to destroy Colonial civilization a..."

*'''''Kara Thrace''':''
:"Semper frakkin' fi!"

== Guest Stars ==
* [[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Lieutenant [[Louis Hoshi]]
* [[Sebastian Spence]] as Lieutenant [[Noel Allison|Noel "Narcho" Allison]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Colin Lawrence]] as Lieutenant [[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]
* [[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
* [[Ty Olsson]] as Captain [[Aaron Kelly]]
* [[Vincent Gale]] as Chief [[Peter Laird]]
* [[Colin Corrigan]] as Sergeant [[Allan Nowart]]
* [[Craig Veroni]] as Sergeant [[Maldonaldo]]
* [[Michael Leisen]] as Private [[Stewart Jaffee]]
* [[Derek Delost]] as Specialist [[Vireem]]
* [[Mike Dopud]] as Specialist [[Gage]]
* [[Ryan Robbins]] as [[Charlie Connor]]
* [[Alexandra Thomas]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Keegan Connor Tracy]] as [[Jeanne]]
* [[Lara Gilchrist]] as [[Paulla Schaffer]]
* [[Andrew McIlroy]] as [[Jacob Cantrell]]
* [[Marilyn Norry]] as [[Reza Chronides]]
* [[Judith Maxie]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Picon Delegate|Picon Delegate]]
* [[Iris Paluly]] as Speaking Delegate [[Dahlia]]
* [[Veena Sood]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Quorum Delegate|Quorum Delegate]]
* [[Alain Chanoine]] as Marine [[Reb]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Mark Verheiden]]
[[Category:RDM]]

No Exit

2009-02-15T15:06:41Z

Ginsengaddict:

No Exit

2009-02-15T15:02:01Z

Ginsengaddict:

No Exit

2009-02-15T14:58:37Z

Ginsengaddict:

No Exit

2009-02-15T14:54:49Z

Ginsengaddict:

Blood on the Scales

2009-02-11T23:49:26Z

Ginsengaddict:

{{Episode Data
| image=
| title= Blood on the Scales
| season= 4
| episode=14
| guests=
| writer= [[Michael Angeli]] <ref name="battlestarsitrep">{{cite_web|url=http://galacticasitrep.blogspot.com/2008/05/angeli-also-rises.html|title=Angeli Also Rises|}}</ref>
| story=
| director=
| production=416
| rating=
| US airdate=February 6, 2009 <ref>http://tv.ign.com/articles/920/920164p1.html</ref>
| CAN airdate=February 6, 2009
| UK airdate=February 10 2009
| dvd=
| population=39603
| oldpopulation= 39643
| prev=[[The Oath]]
| next=[[No Exit]]
| forumthread= 2552
}}

== Overview ==
:''[[Felix Gaeta]]'s mutiny continues while Roslin finds refuge on the Cylon Basestar.''

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===
* Rebel marines led by [[Aaron Kelly]] storm the airlock and capture [[Admiral Adama]] and [[Saul Tigh]] both of whom were knocked out by a stun grenade.
* Tigh recognizes Kelly and calls him "the brig rat." Kelly is visibly uneasy about all this.
* Meanwhile, the [[Raptor]] with President [[Roslin]] and [[Gaius Baltar]] on board heads for the [[Basestar]].
* A pair of Vipers, piloted by Narcho and Hotdog, pursue the Raptor. Hotdog, who is unaware of the mutiny on ''Galactica'', gets the Raptor in his sights, but doesn't fire. Instead he orders the Raptor to identify itself.
* Narcho tells Hotdog to destroy the Raptor, but Hotdog continues to ask for the target's identification.
* Roslin transmits a message from the Raptor saying that she is aboard the Raptor. [[Gage]] blocks the transmission, but not before Hotdog receives it.
* [[Gaeta]], now in command of the CIC, contacts Hotdog and orders him to destroy the Raptor. When Hotdog continues to hold his fire, Narcho goes in and launches a pair of missiles at the Raptor.
* The [[Eight]] piloting the Raptor successfully avoids the missiles, which hit the Basestar instead. The Raptor successfully docks at the Basestar.
* Gaeta orders Colonel Tigh to be placed in the brig with the other Cylons, but orders Admiral Adama to be brought to the CIC.
* On board the Basestar, the Cylons demand to know why they're being fired upon. Roslin explains the situation. Fearing that the government has been overthrown, the Cylons want to jump away from the Fleet.
* Roslin insists that they give Adama a chance to retake ''Galactica''. Baltar points out that it's unlikely that Adama will win and that Gaeta and Zarek have the majority of support on ''Galactica''. Roslin counters that they've already seen evidence that not all of ''Galactica'''s crew support the mutiny.
* Roslin tells the Cylons to move their ship into the middle of the Fleet, so that ''Galactica'' won't be able to fire upon them.
* Back on ''Galactica'', Adama is brought to the CIC. Gaeta asks him to call Roslin and convince her to surrender.
* Adama refuses and instead pulls off his admiral pins. He throws them to Gaeta and sarcastically tells Gaeta that he's the admiral now and to make the call himself.
* Gaeta orders gun batteries to target the Basestar, but before they can do so, the Basestar moves into the middle of the Fleet. Gaeta calls off the attack and orders the Basestar to be quarantined. He also gives orders to prepare for [[Tom Zarek]]'s arrival.
* Adama asks Gaeta if he's planning on shooting him. Gaeta gives no response.

=== Act 1 ===

=== Act 2 ===

=== Act 3 ===

=== Act 4 ===

== Notes ==
*The [[Quorum of Twelve (RDM)|Quorum of Twelve]] were murdered on Zarek's order for supporting President Roslin. [[Lee Adama]] survived as he wasn't present during the Quorum session. Two other regular Quorum members (Gemenon Delegate and one other delegate) were replaced by temporary stand-ins (who were killed), and their fate is unknown.
*Romo Lampkin while being forced to serve as Adama's lawyer during his trial he referred to two looming Marine guards as "Wynken and Blynken". This was in reference to the poem of ''[[Wikipedia:Wynken, Blynken, and Nod|Wynken, Blynken, and Nod]]'', a late 19th century Dutch child's lullaby by [[Wikipedia:Eugene Field|Eugene Field]] about three fishermen fishing in the starry night in the sky with the help of the moon and uses a magic wooden shoe as as their boat.<ref>[http://www3.amherst.edu/~rjyanco94/literature/eugenefield/poems/poemsofchildhood/wynkenblynkenandnod.html Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" Lullaby]</ref>
*This episode marks the death of Felix Gaeta and Tom Zarek who are executed by firing squad for their mutiny against Adama and the government.
*The character Captain Kelly was last seen during season 3 when he was arrested for his bombing and assassinations of Baltar's lawyers. His character has appeared intermittently since the show began and it is fitting that he would be a double-turn coat as he was part of the original senior staff and his love for Admiral Adama is proven to be stronger than his hatred for the Cylons.
*The events depicted in "The Oath" and "Blood on the Scales" cover approximately nine hours: Tigh enters Adama's quarters at 0620 at the beginning of "The Oath", culminates with Gaeta seizing the CIC at 0922, and concludes with Adama and his loyalists retaking the CIC at 1532 in "Blood on the Scales". The executions of Gaeta and Zarek, however, take place at an unspecified time later.
*The ship's FTL drive is seen for the first time.

== Analysis ==
*Despite all of the support that Gaeta and Zarek seemed to have at the beginning of the mutiny, Roslin and Adama had more support from people opposed to it and possibly people who rethought it like Kelly. On Roslin and Adama's side were ''Galactica's'' senior staff (the members of CIC were either people on Gaeta's side or forced to work at gunpoint by marines), at least most of the crew given how many people joined Adama's march to CIC, the Quorum of Twelve and the Cylons and Baltar's followers. Gaeta and Zarek had the supporters they'd managed to gather amongst ''Galactica's'' crew and about 25 ships who refused Roslin's order to stand down FTL drives. In the end Adama and Roslin were successful because the people supported them more and Adama had enough respect from his crew that he was able to turn a lot back to his side just by stating his intention to retake the ship and walking by others. Gaeta and Zarek had to use force to get what they wanted. Many people, both in support of Gaeta/Zarek and in opposition, were killed. Given the death count, 40 in the first four hours of the mutiny, from 06:32 hours when Zarek was released from the Brig to sometime after 10:30 hours when Adama and Tigh are captured in the stowage bay (with most of the killing starting shortly after 09:02 hours after Capt. [[Kara Thrace]] rescues Delegate [[Lee Adama]] in the Hanger Deck. [[Peter Laird]] was the very first death, occuring shortly before 07:00 hours.), the attack on those Loyal to Adama was vicious. The break down of mutineer and loyalist deaths hasn't been given yet, but it is most likely that most of these deaths were those loyal to Adama since Gaeta/Zarek forces had the elements of both surprise and preparation in their favor. The 40 figure only represents the deaths by the end of "[[The Oath]]", the approximate halfway point of the mutiny at 10:30 hours. With the retaking of CIC by Adama and Tigh, the mutiny ended at 15:32 hours, approximately 8 hours and 40 minutes elapsed time (they may have been resisters after that time not wishing to be taken into custody). Mutiny death figures since 10:30 hours, including the murder of the Quorum delegates, will be reflected in the survivor population count after the teaser of "[[No Exit]]" unless otherwise indicated.
*Gaeta's sudden lack of pain in his amputated leg signals that his chronic pain (which he tried to numb with painkillers during the webisodes) was partially psychological. Once he was at peace with who he was and what he had done, his mental pain and much of his physical pain and itching disappeared. His last words acknowledged that the irritation had stopped.
*The marines who eventually joined Adama's side near the end of the episode indicates that other mutineers simply were part of the coup out of self-preservation or at least wanting to be on the "winning" side. Once it was clear that Adama and the senior staff were rising up and reclaiming the ship, the marines, and others finally arose as well.
*By sparing Narcho's life, Admiral Adama characteristically shows his love and compassion for those who serve under him. Despite his speech of "no forgiveness" in "The Oath", it is clear that Adama will attempt to give the some of the mutineers a second chance.
*From a pragmatic standpoint, Humanity, such at the verge of extinction anyways, can not afford to lose large numbers of people.
*The mutineers at no point subdued all resistance aboard ''Galactica''. As Adama marched on CIC, many crew members rushed to join him, indicating that they were either still resisting or were waiting for a sign that the tide had turned. CIC also was controlled by Gaeta through the use of marines who held most of the staff at gunpoint.
* Tyrol, while attempting to disable Galactica's jump drive notices odd tears in the hull near the FTL assembly. It is not known whether this was hull stress caused by Tyrol disabling the FTL as the ship was about to jump, or an as-yet unexplained problem that has an impact on Galactica's hull.
**The ''Galactica'' may be suffering from serious long term metal fatigue and/or cumulative battle damage, as evidenced by the bulkhead deformation Tyrol discovers in the FTL drive room. Over the course of the series, Tigh has made a number of comments on ''Galactica's'' worsening structural condition, especially in absence of any possibility for repair at a shipyard. The ship itself is 50+ years old and has seen combat in two wars against the Cylons, and after all the damage its taken - the [[Battle of New Caprica]] being the most obvious example - it is not all that surprising to see the ship's structural integrity begin to fail like this.
** It is extremely unlikely that the damage witnessed by Tyrol was a result of his improper shut-down of the FTL, a tear of that size in metal would likely have been extremely loud and Tyrol does not notice the damage until he just happens to glance up at it. While it is possible that the FTL drive spun up would be louder than the sound of such a crack there is also no strong vibrations shown either in engineering or on the bridge, which would no doubt accompany such a large tear. Given that the area where Tyrol is an auxiliary control center, which is unlikely the be manned unless there is a problem with the FTL drives, it is eminently possible that the tear has been there for some time since it has been quite some time since Galactica has been depicted as having FTL problem. However, as were are dealing with a device that can bend time and space, nothing can be completely discredited at this point.
*Roslin threatens to attack ''Galactica'' if Gaeta and Zarek do not surrender. Numerous missile emplacements are then shown opening along the arms of the rebel basestar. Due to the known incompetence of ''Galactica's'' mutineer crew (Gage being unable to jam Roslin's transmission in [[The Oath]] without Gaeta's help), the chaos aboard ''Galactica'' with a mutiny still ongoing, and ''Galatica's'' status as an undermanned vessel, it is possible that the basestar could have successfully engaged and destroyed ''Galactica'' or at least severely damaged her enough to prevent her escaping.
*Captain Kelly, after having been locked up in the brig for his attempts to assassinate Baltar's lawyers, still holds a deep love for the Galactica and her commander. As he was a part of the original senior leadership (3rd in command as shown after Adama's near-assassination), his nostalgic comments with Tyrol indicated his withering resolve to be part of the coup. In addition, being a witness to the cruelty of Zarek with the Quorum was probably the first catalyst for his repentance.
*Gaeta, prior to his execution, is shown smoking and having drinks with Baltar. This is significant as Gaeta is rarely shown smoking during the show, and when it is shown, it was done when Gaeta finally felt free to be who he wanted to be. The first time was during his taped interview with D'Anna where he "let his hair down" so to speak. Incorporating a final smoke for Gaeta seemed appropriate to allow the audience to see a humanized Gaeta again.
*Gaeta and Baltar have a civil conversation before Gaeta's execution indicating that the two have forgiven each other for thier past transgressions: Gaeta trying to kill Baltar and Baltar's involvement with the Cylons on New Caprica.
*Baltar, despite admitting to not really liking his followers, has developed a sense of responsibility towards them as shown when he's speaking with [[Number Six#Lida|Lida]] about them and deciding to go back. This is the first time that Baltar has been shown to truly care about something besides himself indicating he may have changed somewhat.
*Dialogue in this episode indicates there are 35 civilian ships left in the fleet. This is the first time since abandoning [[New Caprica]] that significant information on the number of ships left in the fleet has emerged. This number doesn't seem to tally with the observed losses in the fleet since the first season, although the number of ships has been portrayed inconsistently throughout the miniseries and the main seasons (a figure in the mid 70s being mentioned in [[Home, Part I]]). The figure of 35 stated here- indicating a loss of half the fleet's ships- seems somewhat inconsistent with a the human population that has only declined by about one fifth since the arrival of Pegasus's crew which bolstered the number of survivors to close to 50,000. Ships being abandoned on New Caprica or afterwards may explain this strikingly low number unless it is a continuity error. If 35 is a correct figure, the other ships in the fleet must have somehow found a way to take a huge number of extra people aboard.
*Ronald D Moore has commented that ''Galactica'' is severely undermanned at this point and therefore large parts of the ship are empty, making it easier for mutineers and counter-mutineers to move around unobserved. This however is contracted by the fact that ''Galactica'' now has the crew of ''Pegasus'' aboard and the ship has in fact been seen to be overcrowded. Even allowing for losses on New Caprica and the fact that ''Pegasus'' was undermanned, the ship should still have a larger crew compliment than when she began her journey. In orbit around New Caprica the two ships still had over 2000 personnel still serving and doubtless most if not all former crew re-enlisted after the evacuation of New Caprica. Galactica's combined crew have not been seen to have taken any substantial losses since leaving New Caprica that would leave much of the ship empty. This may be a retcon or continuity error. It should be noted, however, that a large proportion of the people on the ship following the escape from New Caprica were civilians who may have since been relocated. Furthermore, it may be that only certain areas of the ship - such as the living quarters - are overcrowded. The exact number of personnel that a fully manned ''Galactica'' should have is unknown.
*Despite [[Sharon Agathon]]'s vision-induced paranoia of a Six taking her daughter, [[Hera Agathon|Hera]]<ref>Sharon kills [[Natalie]] in "[[Sine Qua Non]]" when she sees the latter with Hera in a corridor after Sharon, President Roslin, and Caprica-Six all have a vision of a Six absconding with Hera at the opera house.</ref>, she does not protest [[Caprica-Six]] carrying Hera while Sharon supports her injured husband, [[Karl Agathon|Karl]]. It must be remembered that it was Caprica Six who aided in the escape of Athena with Hera from the Baseship after she got Helo to kill her so she would resurrect on the Baseship and recover their daughter. Caprica Six killed [[Sharon Valerii]] ("Boomer") after she tried to kill Hera for rejecting her and then helped get both Athena and Hera off the Baseship. Ironically, Caprica-Six is the only character who has been seen specifically committing infanticide (not counting Baltar's dream about Adama drowning Hera).<ref>Caprica-Six snaps a human infant's neck in her first scene in the [[Miniseries]].</ref>
*Assuming the writers maintained their preference to mirror real-world military traditions, the firing squad assembled to execute Gaeta and Zarek would likely be composed of low-level mutineers who were treated with leniency and then required to seal their loyalty (and feelings of guilt) by executing their former conspirators.
*It isn't clear whether Gaeta and Zarek were given any sort of trial before being executed. Given Adama and Roslin's preference (albeit sometimes waveringly so) for maintaining the rule of law, it would be surprising if the lead mutineers were just shot out of hand.
* During Tyrol and Kelly's discussion in the arms locker, Kelly mentions that he could have told Tyrol that Cally was trouble, Tyrol's response "Thanks, it wouldn't have mattered", indicates that, even if he had known that Cally had been sleeping with Hot Dog, he would still have married her. This clearly indicates that Tyrol loved her, and the way in which he says it clearly indicates that he still does. This means that Tyrol's tirade against the Admiral after his wife's death was an act, possibly out of grief, possibly to get himself dismissed from the Deck Crew so he couldn't sabotage anything should he have any hidden programming.

== Questions ==
* What will become of the other mutineers (Racetrack, Narcho, Seelix, etc)? Will Adama follow through with his promise of "no forgiveness"?
* Will Kelly be allowed to resume his duties on Galactica?
* Who will take over Gaeta's duties?
* What repercussions will the Quorum's assassination have on the Fleet?
* What is the significance of the damage Tyrol discovers in the engine room? Has it been there long, or is it a result of the improper shut down of the FTL drive? Do other areas of the ship show similar signs of damage?
* Is the same structural deficiency present near the other FTL drive?
* In the [[Miniseries]], Colonel Tigh tells Lt. Gaeta to "spin up FTL drives 1 and 2". Why did Tyrol's deactivation of one FTL drive stop Gaeta from ordering the other's use? Is the other FTL drive still functional?
** The ship may need both FTL drives to make a proper jump.
** Only one of the FTL drives damaged during [[Exodus, Part II]] may have been repaired.
* Will Anders survive his injuries? Were Starbuck and Lampkin even successful in getting him to sickbay?
* Will the rebel Cylons become less trusting of the humans as a result of this mutiny? Or will they be more inclined to trust certain humans, such as Roslin, since she managed to convince them to stay and follow her leadership?
* What was that device Roslin and Leoben were using to communicate with the rest of the Fleet?
* Why was Lee Adama - as opposed to Roslin - present at Zarek and Gaeta's execution?
* What will be done to the 25 ships who did not obey Roslin's order to power down their FTL drives?
* Will the FTL upgrades proceed once order has been brought back completely?
* Will there be a faction that will attempt to portray Zarek or Gaeta as martyrs?
* Will Helo survive his injuries?
** There is no reason to suppose that Helo is seriously injured, He was merely hit hard enough in the head to give him a concussion and for him to require medical treatment. Since the entire mutiny takes place in less than 9 hours that injury is more than enough to incapacitate him for the entire duration of the mutiny. Additionally, the wound likely looks worse than it actually is, since all head wounds bleed very badly, but he will likely need stitches.
***Helo was hit in the head with a rifle butt twice in quick succession. From the looks of things he was out for several hours. Head wounds of such force are '''''always''''' serious and not to be taken lightly.
* How will Baltar's new-found sense of responsibility toward his flock change his behavior?
* Will the Cylons' assistance of, and subordination to, President Roslin (and/or Colonial political leaders' fears of being associated with the failed coup d'état) secure them the citizenship and Quorum representation they seek?
* With Zarek dead and Lee Adama being the only surviving member of the Quorum (or one of the few surviving members, considering that two regular delegates were replaced by stand-ins), will he become the new Vice President?
* Are ''Galactica'''s computers now networked?
* With most of the Quorum dead, will Roslin and Adama use the attempted mutiny as a basis to declare martial law?
== Character Development ==
*''In the [[Miniseries]] (in the teaser) the first time we see Lt. Felix Gaeta and (back then) Commander Adama Gaeta was handing him routine reports-and also unknown to them the first indications of trouble-while he was practicing his public address on the occasion of ''Galactica'''s-and his-retirement. It is of note considering what we now know of what the unimaginable future had for them:''

:'''Gaeta''': Morning, sir. (hands him messages) Com traffic from the midwatch.

:'''Adama:''' Morning. (re: messages) Anything interesting?

:'''Gaeta:''' Mostly housekeeping. Oh, there is one odd message we were copied on. (shows him the message) The one from Fleet headquarters. Courier officer's overdue coming back from Armistice station.

:'''Adama:''' Hm.

:'''Gaeta:''' They're asking for a status report on all FTL capable ships in case they need someone to Jump out there tomorrow and see if his ship's had a mechanical problem.

:'''Adama:''' I think we're a little busy tomorrow, Mr. Gaeta. What do you think?

:'''Gaeta:''' (grins) Yes, sir. And may I also take this opportunity to say it's been both a pleasure and an honor to serve under you these past three years.

:'''Adama:''' Thank you, Mister Gaeta. The honor's been mine.

*It's also interesting to note that the first time Roslin and Leoben met, [[Flesh and Bone|he was trying to sabotage the fleet and she had him executed]], while in this episode they are seen cooperating and sharing a friendly moment.
== Official Statements ==
*[http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2009/02/battlestar-galactica-gaeta-blood-scales-angeli.html Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune interviews Michael Angeli about the episode:], The Six who sleeps with Baltar on the baseship is named [[Number Six#Lida|Lida]].

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
*'''''Tom Zarek''' delivers his ultimatum to '''Laura Roslin''''':
:'''Zarek''': This is Tom Zarek, President of the Twelve Colonies. It's over, Laura. Saul Tigh was killed attempting to escape. Bill Adama was tried and found guilty of his crimes. A firing squad executed him this morning. It's done, Laura. You want to think about the people of this fleet now, and surrender.
:'''Roslin''': No. Not now. Not ever. Do you hear me? I will use every cannon, every bomb, every bullet, every weapon I have down to my own eyeteeth to end you. I swear it!''' ''I'm coming for all of you!'''''
*'''''Felix Gaeta''' is disturbed by the sight of the slaughtered Quorum delegates:
:'''Gaeta''': We--we had the truth on our side. Now . . . now . . .
:'''Zarek''': The truth is told by whoever is left standing.
*'''''Lee Adama''' has just thrown a grenade towards the marines guarding the Cylon Prisoners, allowing him and '''Kara Thrace''' to kill them, after which Kara takes cover and Lee looks at her both amused and pleased with himself:
:'''Lee Adama''': ''walking forward and picking up the Grenade'' I never pulled the pin.
:'''Kara Thrace''': Ok, that is not funny.
:'''Lee Adama''': It would have been if you had thought of it.
:'''Kara Thrace''': No, still not funny.
*'''''Laura Roslin''''' broadcasting to the fleet:
:'''Roslin''': This is President Laura Roslin speaking from the Cylon baseship. Felix Gaeta has seized ''Galactica'' by force. The Cylons were defending themselves. They will not harm you. I repeat, the Cylons will not harm you. I am asking all ships' captains not to jump. Do not jump! Shut down your FTL drives!
*'''''Felix Gaeta''' is about to be executed for his crimes:
:'''Gaeta''': (referring to the pain from his lost leg) It stopped.

== Guest Stars ==
* [[Mark Sheppard]] as [[Romo Lampkin]]
* [[Richard Hatch]] as [[Tom Zarek]]
* [[Sebastian Spence]] as Lieutenant [[Noel Allison|Noel "Narcho" Allison]]
* [[Bodie Olmos]] as Lieutenant [[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]]
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Lieutenant [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
* [[Jennifer Halley]] as Ensign [[Diana Seelix|Diana "Hardball" Seelix]]
* [[Ty Olsson]] as Captain [[Aaron Kelly]]
* [[Derek Delost]] as Specialist [[Vireem]]
* [[Mike Dopud]] as Specialist [[Gage]]
* [[Colin Corrigan]] as Sergeant [[Allan Nowart]]
* [[Alexandra Thomas]] as [[Hera Agathon]]
* [[Callum Keith Rennie]] as [[Number Two]] / [[Leoben Conoy]]
* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
* [[Andrew McIlroy]] as [[Jacob Cantrell]]
* [[Marilyn Norry]] as [[Reza Chronides]]
* [[Judith Maxie]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Picon Delegate|Picon Delegate]]
* [[Iris Paluly]] as Speaking Delegate [[Dahlia]]
* [[Veena Sood]] as [[Unnamed civilians in the Fleet (RDM)#Quorum Delegate|Quorum Delegate]]
* [[Adrian Holmes]] as Marine [[Parr]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Michael Angeli]]
[[Category:RDM]]

No Exit

2009-02-10T14:12:31Z

Ginsengaddict:

{{spoiler}}
{{Episode Data
| image=
| title= No Exit
| season= 4
| episode=15
| guests=
| writer= [[Ryan Mottesheard]]
| story=
| director= [[Gwyneth Horder-Payton]]
| production=417
| rating=
| US airdate=February 13, 2009 <ref>http://tv.ign.com/articles/920/920164p1.html</ref>
| CAN airdate=February 13, 2009
| UK airdate=February 17, 2009
| dvd=
| population=
| prev= [[Blood on the Scales]]
| next= [[Deadlock]]
}}

== Overview ==

{{spoilli|''[[Ellen Tigh]] is resurrected, and she knows all the answers. Anders' condition releases a flood of visions and crucial memories''.}}

== Summary ==

=== Teaser ===

=== Act 1 ===

=== Act 2 ===

=== Act 3 ===

=== Act 4 ===

== Notes ==
[[Image:No Exit Crew Call Sheet.jpg|thumb|right|Crew call sheet for "No Exit"]]

* This episode title (and production information) are derived from a call sheet posted by Wil McQueen.<ref name="flickr">{{cite_web|url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilmcqueen/2476722149/sizes/o/|title=Wil McQueen's Flickr photostream|date=8 May 2008|accessdate=30 May 2008|last=McQueen|first=Wil|format=|language=}}</ref>
* ''No Exit'' is the title of a [[w:No Exit|1944 existentialist play]] by [[w:Jean-Paul Sartre|Jean-Paul Sartre]]. The story references three people who are trapped in Hell, shown as a stately room with chairs and sofas. Each character in the play loathes the other two characters. The play ends with the notable line, "Hell is other people!"

== Analysis ==

*{{spoilli|In the preview for "No Exit", it is revealed that [[Ellen Tigh]] returns and she knows everything. It has also been seen that it has been 18 months since she died. The Canadian preview also reveals that Sam Anders regains his Cylon memories.}}

== Questions ==

*{{spoilli|How is Ellen able to resurrect if the technology required has been [[The Hub|neutralized]]?}}

== Official Statements ==

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==

== Guest Stars ==

* [[Rekha Sharma]] as [[Tory Foster]]
*{{spoilli|[[Kate Vernon]] as [[Ellen Tigh]]}}
* [[John Hodgman]]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{Episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:Episodes written by Ryan Mottesheard]]

[[ms:No Exit]]

The Face of the Enemy

2009-01-09T22:56:45Z

Ginsengaddict:

{{Episode Data
| image=
| title=The Face of the Enemy
| series=
| special= Y
| season=
| episode=
| guests=
| writer=[[Jane Espenson]]<br/>[[Seamus Kevin Fahey]]
| story=
| director=[[Wayne Rose]]
| production=
| rating=
| US airdate= 12 December 2008 through 12 January 2009
| UK airdate=
| dvd=
| population=
| prev= [[Revelations]]
| next= [[Sometimes a Great Notion]]
}}

"'''The Face of the Enemy'''" is a webisode series featuring [[Felix Gaeta]] and two [[Number Eight]]s who, along with a handful humans, are stranded on a [[Raptor 718|Raptor]] and mysteriously begin to die one by one. These events take place six to nine days after "[[Revelations]]".

== Summary ==
===Episode 1===

* Release date: December 12, 2008
* Running time: ~4:11

[[Image:TFOTE1.jpg|thumb|Tigh tells Gaeta to take a vacation.]]
A blood-covered Felix Gaeta is in a Raptor adrift in deep space, nine days after the events of "Revelations". Flashbacks of a list of names being written on a pad, a Number Eight cutting into her palm, a pair of needle-nose pliers, and a struggle inside the Raptor segue to three days before (six days after "Revelations").

Over his protests, an exhausted Gaeta is ordered by Colonel [[Saul Tigh]] to take a week's leave aboard the ''[[Zephyr]]'' to recover. On his way to the hangar bay, Lt. [[Louis Hoshi]] catches up with him in the hallway, gives him [[morpha]] for his pain, then kisses him goodbye, evincing a romantic relationship. Joining Gaeta on the flight are [[deckhand]] [[Brooks_(RDM)|Brooks]], two Number Eights, and the Raptor shuttle flight crew, Lt. [[J. Finnegan|J. "Shark" Finnegan]] and [[Esrin|"Easy" Esrin]].

With the Raptor 15 minutes away from the ''Zephyr'', [[DRADIS]] picks up hostile [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]] contacts and the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] is forced to make an emergency [[Propulsion_in_the_Re-imagined_Series#Faster-Than-Light travel|jump]]. The Raptor completes its jump, but discovers that the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] is nowhere to be seen.

===Episode 2===

* Release date: December 15, 2008
* Running time: ~3:42

[[Image:TFOTE2.JPG|thumb|The occupants of the stranded Raptor.]]
Shark broadcasts on [[wireless]] to any ships that might be nearby, Easy says she entered the right coordinates, and Gaeta's stump starts to act up. A worried Brooks suggests jumping back, thinking the Fleet might have left a Raptor behind for a little while, but the Eights don't think so, since that could give away their position to Cavil's ships. Gaeta is sure that the Fleet knows that they are missing and sent someone back to look, but that they can't find out because the jump drive isn't responding. Brooks begins to pray to [[Poseidon]], puzzling the Eights since they are a long way from water, but Brooks replies they are in a ship after all. Shark discovers that the drive isn't responding because they have jumped over the [[red line]] and are thus unable to jump back to their starting point. The Eight in a Cylon [[flight suit]] ("Hard Eight") says she suspects as much, since she doesn't recognize the star patterns. Gaeta sits at the aft workstation and determines that the FTL computer's calculations were corrupted. Shark reasons that getting back to the Fleet is not impossible, just harder, and as Hard Eight and the others continue their discussion, the other Eight ("Sweet Eight") asks Gaeta if he recognizes her.

Back on ''[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', Hoshi is clearly worried for Gaeta. The DRADIS contact was a false alarm, the Fleet has jumped back to their original coordinates, and there has been no sign of the missing Raptor for two days. He asks Tigh for a Raptor and a pilot to search for the missing Raptor, explaining that just as something in the universe led them to Earth, he knows he can find them. He stops short of revealing just how close he is to Gaeta and instead asserts that there has been too much loss already. Tigh agrees to Hoshi's request, but will have to run it by Admiral [[Adama (RDM)|Adama]].

Back aboard the Raptor, Shark determines how long they can last out there. The limiting factor is the air supply; since the Raptor was on shuttle detail, the CO<sub>2</sub> scrubbers were not fully functional. They have only 20 ½ hours with the air thinned out to 68% of ship-normal O<sub>2</sub>, so everyone must limit their exertion and sleep as much as they can to stretch out the supply. Easy points out that at that oxygen level people experience memory loss, irrational behavior, depression and dizziness.

===Episode 3===

* Release date: December 17, 2008
* Running time: ~2:42

[[Image:TFOTE3.jpg|thumb|Gaeta meets with an Eight on New Caprica.]]
Brooks offers to take a look at the Raptor's CO<sub>2</sub> scrubbers and opens a side panel. Meanwhile, Gaeta recognizes Sweet Eight. A flashback to 15 months earlier on Cylon-occupied [[New Caprica]] shows the two meeting in a tent, with Gaeta looking over a list of names and handing it to the Eight. Gaeta looks concerned as Sweet Eight leaves the tent.

Brooks finds a loose connection, but has trouble reaching it. Hard Eight offers to take over, and Brooks hands her his pliers. She reaches it, then stiffens as she is electrocuted. Esrin kicks her free, and Gaeta checks for a pulse before declaring her dead. Brooks is stunned, exclaiming, "My gods, I was just doing that! I was just doing that same thing!" Sweet Eight calls attention to the pliers. Gaeta finds that the insulating grip has been stripped off and asks, "Who did this?"

===Episode 4===

* Release date: December 22, 2008
* Running time: ~3:12

[[Image:TFOTE4.jpg|thumb|Gaeta asks what to do with the dead Eight's body.]]
Shark examines the pliers and observes they are old and that the grips wore off, but Sweet Eight suggests that it wasn't an accident, that "someone didn't like the idea of a machine breathing their air." Brooks points that the pliers were his and he was the one who was supposed to have been killed, but Sweet Eight replies not unless he was the one who stripped the grips and questions how he could not have noticed the bare metal. Gaeta quashes the growing argument, saying it was an accident, and asks what to do with the corpse. Sweet Eight wants to jettison her, noting that she will otherwise begin to decay and corrupt the air, and that the oxygen in the cabin can be sucked back into the tanks with only a little loss. As flight suits are broken out and put on, Sweet Eight whispers to Gaeta that she has an idea how to get them home, that she will tell him when the others are asleep, and asks her him to trust her.

In a flashback to New Caprica, Gaeta writes down a list of names and what look like serial numbers for Sweet Eight. He tells her he hasn't seen some of these people in a long time, and they may already be dead. Sweet Eight reassures Gaeta that the [[Number One]]s keep good records, and if some of them are locked up, she can find them and get them out, and reassures him that they can do this.

Back in the Fleet, Lt. [[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]] and Hoshi launch from ''Galactica'' in [[Raptor 1029]].

===Episode 5===

* Release date: December 24, 2008
* Running time: ~4:42

[[Image:TFOTE5.jpg|thumb|The dead body is jettisoned.]]
The crew jettison Hard Eight's body. Afterwards, they settle down to sleep. Gaeta, apparently in pain, touches his stump and injects himself with a dose of morpha. Sweet Eight sees this but pretends to be asleep. Gaeta falls asleep as well and flashes back to New Caprica again, remembering Sweet Eight telling him she managed to get some of the people on his list out of detention. Others, she says, were already dead. She is particularly upset about a child whose fate is still a mystery and begins crying. Gaeta reassures her that they've done good and slowly leans in to kiss her.

In the present, Sweet Eight wakes Gaeta while the other three still sleep and proposes her plan. She will hook into the Raptor's systems much as [[Sharon Agathon]] once did on the rescue mission to Caprica ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]), in order to determine the corrupted memory address that made them jump to the wrong location. However, she is afraid that the others will think she is sabotaging the ship, so she asks Gaeta to cover for her while she works. Gaeta accidentally jars Brooks, who doesn't move. The two notice that Brooks has died of an overdose of Gaeta's morpha. Shark and Easy wake up and accuse Sweet Eight of having killed Brooks. Easy aims her pistol at Eight, who is shackled. Gaeta protests, but Eight tells them that she understands.

===Episode 6===

* Release date: December 29, 2008
* Running time: ~4:06

Raptor 1029 jumps into empty space on the first leg of Hoshi and Racetrack's search for the missing Raptor. They are disappointed to find nothing within DRADIS range, and make a second FTL jump to continue the search.

Back on the stranded Raptor 718, Easy and Shark are apparently asleep in the cockpit with the chronometer between them indicating the occupants’ available air supply counting down from nine hours and twenty-five minutes. A sleeping Gaeta dreams of Hoshi, then of his recent experiences aboard the Raptor. He awakes to find that Sweet Eight has freed herself from her bonds. When she asks if he’s going to restrain her again, he says his intention was to free her. After Eight cautions him against waking Shark and Easy, Gaeta hands her a scalpel and agrees to her earlier plan to physically interface with the Raptor’s systems. Eight slices open her palm and Gaeta helps her plug a data cable into the wound. Once Eight is connected, she says that the low oxygen levels in the compartment are making it difficult to project. When Gaeta asks what she is projecting, she replies, “You know where I am.” A flashback shows Gaeta and the Eight back on New Caprica, where the Eight gently kisses Gaeta. Back in the present, Eight attempts to do the same, but Gaeta interrupts her by saying he’s involved with someone. Though Eight tells him that she’s pleased and that he deserves his current happiness, the two kiss passionately until the Eight abruptly gasps, saying that she has found the Fleet. She then tells Gaeta to prepare for a jump, as she is about to take the Raptor home.

===Episode 7===

* Release date: December 31, 2008
* Running time: ~2:06

Aboard Raptor 1029, Racetrack mentions to Hoshi that she had hoped he and Gaeta would get together and was glad they finally did. Hoshi mentions Gaeta’s drive to do the right thing, which Racetrack inadvertently makes an offhand remark in response about the rarity and mortality attached to such a well-developed moral core and quickly admonishes herself for it. Hoshi absolves her of her slip of the tongue and encourages her to continue the search.

Raptor 718 completes its jump. The countdown on the occupants’ air supply reads eight hours and eleven minutes. Gaeta checks the rear console and finds to his chagrin that not only did the jump drain nearly all of the Raptor’s power reserves, but that neither the Fleet nor any other vessels are in DRADIS range. Gaeta surmises that the Fleet may still be nearby, but out of the Raptor’s DRADIS radius. Eight says she will send a pulse that will alert the Fleet to their position and estimates a ten-hour window for rescue. Gaeta heads to the cockpit to wake Shark and Easy, but is horrified to find them both dead, their throats slashed open. His hands are covered with their blood from his attempts to wake them. Gaeta then looks accusingly at Eight, whose only response is to silently meet his gaze.

===Episode 8===

* Release date: January 5, 2009
* Running time: ~3:06

Raptor 1029 completes its third jump, and, again, Racetrack and Hoshi see no sign of Raptor 718. Racetrack offers to plot another jump, and Hoshi agrees, but then asks Racetrack if she thinks it's crazy to continue the search. Racetrack reluctantly says she does, and adds that if Gaeta was in their position, he would also call off the search for Hoshi once it became clear that further searches were futile. After an uncomfortable silence, Racetrack finally asks if Hoshi wants to call off the search and return to ''Galactica''. After a few seconds of pained consideration, Hoshi says yes.

Back on Raptor 718, Gaeta begins to piece everything together, realizing to his horror that Sweet Eight was responsible for every single death, an accusation Eight responds with sedate confirmation, claiming that she did it to give the two of them more air. She then says to an increasingly frantic Gaeta that she killed them all to protect him from his own desire to kill them all. Gaeta angrily denies Eight's words, tearing the data cable out of her palm. She then affirms that Gaeta is a killer at heart, that he was when she gave her the list of names.

Another flashback to the tent on New Caprica shows a sleeping Gaeta oblivious to Sweet Eight handing the list to another Eight, instructing her to kill everyone on it.

The flashback ends, as the realization draws over Gaeta's face.

===Episode 9===

* Release date: January 7, 2009
* Running time: ~3:41

Gaeta listens in horror as Sweet Eight reveals that she had most of the people on the lists he gave her killed, leaving only enough of them alive to make him think she had saved them all, fooling him into thinking he was doing some good by collaborating with her. She states flatly that in a war, a basic tactical maneuver is to kill the people your enemy values. She also forces him to acknowledge that Baltar knew what Gaeta and "his Eight" were doing all along. In a flashback to the Season 3 episode [[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]] where Gaeta interrogates Baltar before his trial, the words Baltar whispered to him which triggered Gaeta's attack are revealed: "I know what your Eight did." In a rage, Gaeta in the present mimics the Gaeta in the flashback -- he picks up the nearest thing that can be used as a weapon (in this case, a scalpel) and stabs Sweet Eight in the neck just as he stabbed Baltar.

===Episode 10===

* Release date: January 12, 2009
* Running time: ~5:36

As the last survivor aboard the ship, Gaeta tries to kill himself with an overdose of morphia but fails to inject the second dose. He starts to sing when suddenly the cabin is illuminated. He is hailed by Raptor 1029.

Back on Galactica, Tigh tells a recovered Gaeta that the incident will not be investigated. Gaeta requests to speak with Admiral Adama directly, on the grounds that the Colonel is a Cylon. Tigh agrees reluctantly. Gaeta leaves CIC and meets Hoshi in the corridor. Gaeta insinuates gloomily that he has a plan and that something important will happen soon.

== Notes ==
* Felix Gaeta has a metal [[w:prosthesis|prosthetic]] leg.
* The two Number Eights are nicknamed "Sweet Eight" and "Pilot Eight" in the commentary by Jane Espenson, the latter being the one in a Cylon flight suit. However, the script for this webisode lists "Pilot Eight" as "Hard Eight."<ref>See: [[Sources: The Face of the Enemy]].</ref>

== Analysis ==
* The rebel Cylon [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] is still with the fleet.
* Saul Tigh has returned to duty, despite being outed as one of the [[Final Five]] Cylons.
* It now does not appear unusual to have Number Eights aboard ''Galactica'', or for them to be riding aboard Colonial shuttles.

== Questions ==
''Not yet available.''

== Official Statements ==
''Not yet available.''

== Noteworthy Dialogue ==
''Not yet available.''

== Cast ==

* [[Alessandro Juliani]] as Junior Lieutenant Felix Gaeta
* [[Grace Park]] as "Sweet Eight" and "Hard Eight"
* [[Michael Hogan]] as Colonel Saul Tigh
* [[Brad Dryborough]] as Junior Lieutenant Louis Hoshi
* [[Leah Cairns]] as Junior Lieutenant Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson
* [[Michael Rogers]] as Brooks
* [[Jessica Harmon]] as "Easy" Esrin
* [[William C. Vaughn]] as Lieutenant J. "Shark" Finnegan (credited as "Finn")




== References ==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

{{episode list (RDM season 4)}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Behind the Scenes]]
[[Category:Episode Guide]]
[[Category:Episode Guide (RDM)|*]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Jane Espenson]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Seamus Kevin Fahey]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Wayne Rose]]
[[Category:RDM]]

Kara Thrace

2009-01-06T23:27:02Z

Ginsengaddict:

:''This article discusses the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]] character with the pilot callsign of "Starbuck." For information on Kara Thrace's counterpart in the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]], see [[Starbuck (TOS)]].''
:''For Kara Thrace's mother, see [[Socrata Thrace]].''

{{Character Data
|photo= Kara Thrace.jpg
|age=
|colony= [[Caprica (RDM)|Caprica]]
|birthname= Kara Thrace
|callsign= Starbuck
|seen= Miniseries
|death=
|parents= [[Socrata Thrace]]† (mother)<br>[[Kara Thrace, father of|Unnamed father]]†
|siblings=
|children=
|marital status= Married to [[Samuel Anders]] (formerly engaged to [[Zak Adama]]†)
|rank= Captain
|actor= [[Katee Sackhoff]] <br> [[Erika-Shaye Gair]] (child)
|cylon=
|serial = 462753 <ref name="serial"> Confirmed number from QMX dogtags given to them by the studio.</ref>
}}
'''Kara "Starbuck" Thrace''' is a gifted [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] pilot, with an attitude that has at times thwarted her career advancement. However, thanks to [[William Adama]], Thrace's skills in battle have extended beyond the cockpit to greatly aid the Fleet.

== Background ==

[[Image:YoungKaraThrace.jpg|thumb|left|A young Kara Thrace in a hallucination ([[Maelstrom]]).]]
*Thrace was so frequently beaten by her mother [[Socrata Thrace|Socrata]], that she came to accept pain as a way of life ("[[Flesh and Bone]]", "[[Maelstrom]]").
*Her father was a pianist ([[Valley of Darkness]]).
*Thrace left home to join the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|military]]. During her training, she received complaints about her conduct towards [[Mike Gibbons|superior officers]].
*One of her first postings prior to being a flight instructor was aboard the battlestar ''[[Triton (RDM)|Triton]]''. While serving aboard, she exhibited one of the first known instances of offending high-ranking commissioned officers, namely one Commander [[Myron Ruth]] who opened court-martial proceedings against her. They were later dropped ([[The Son Also Rises]]).
* She was a very talented [[pyramid]] player ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]), and received a scholarship to the Fleet Academy to play pyramid. During this time, she injured her knee and was no longer able to play pyramid at a professional level. However, she discovered a passion and skill at being a fighter pilot ([[Podcast:The Hand of God]]). On graduating from Colonial Flight School, she undertook a period of active duty before returning to flight school as an instructor.
*Thrace fell in love with a young recruit, [[Zak Adama]]. Despite his poor performance, she passed him on his final flight examination although he failed three of the required maneuvers ([[Act of Contrition]]).
*Thrace's engagement to Zak Adama ended when he was killed during a routine mission shortly after graduating. At the time, [[Lee Adama]], Zak's elder brother, blamed their father for Zak's death. Feeling guilty, Thrace did little to alter this idea. She did, however, meet [[William Adama]] shortly after the accident, and the two struck up such a strong rapport that they stood together at the funeral ([[Act of Contrition]]).
*Thrace resigned from flight school as a instructor and transferred as an operational pilot to the [[Galactica type battlestar|battlestar]] ''[[Galactica]]'' under the command of William Adama, where she served for some two years prior to the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Cylon attack]] on the [[The Twelve Colonies (RDM)|Twelve Colonies]]. Before the Cylon attack, she was second in command of the remaining pilots, subordinate to the [[CAG]], [[Jackson Spencer]].
*At the time of the Cylon attack she has an run-down apartment in [[Delphi]] that overlooks a parking lot and a Colonial version of a [[Wikipedia:Humvee|Humvee]] which she and Helo use to escape the city and get to the country where she meets her husband-to-be Anders. She rarely used the dilapidated apartment. She was also a very avid painter, and her apartment was cluttered with her paintings and a [[Starbuck's Poem|poem]] is written on a wall ([[Valley of Darkness]]).
*Despite her reckless approach to life, Thrace hides the fact that she is deeply spiritual. She frequently prays (or talks) to the [[Lords of Kobol]], particularly [[Aphrodite]] and [[Artemis]] in times of need ([[Miniseries]], "[[Flesh and Bone]]", "[[You Can't Go Home Again]]").

==Character History at a Glance==
*Thrace's attitude quickly runs her afoul of Colonel [[Saul Tigh]], ''Galactica's'' [[Executive officer]]. Their open mutual dislike of one another leads to the point where blows are exchanged, with Thrace ending up in the brig. After the Cylon attack she is released from the brig and returns to duty as Viper pilot.
*Thrace manages to keep two of three nuclear missiles from striking ''Galactica'' in their first Cylon sortie, and saves Captain Adama from doom in an innovative maneuver in the [[Battle of Ragnar Anchorage]].
*Her skills in saving Apollo brings her grudging respect from Colonel Tigh, but she is unable to accept his offer of the olive branch - an act that will have repercussions for her later ([[Miniseries]]).
[[image:Bastille_Day-Starbuck_Boxey.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kara Thrace|Starbuck]] as acting [[CAG]] with [[Boxey (RDM)|Boxey]] as assistant ([[Bastille Day]]).]]
*Thrace participates in a hostage rescue mission aboard the ''[[Astral Queen]]''. Following the successful mission, Thrace tries to mend fences between herself and Colonel Tigh with a toast (consisting of water), apologizing in much the same way as Tigh himself had tried after their initial escape from [[Ragnar Anchorage]]. But Tigh rejects Thrace's apology, stating that her flaws are professional, while his flaws were personal ([[Bastille Day]]).
*Thrace eventually admits her secret about Zak Adama to William Adama himself, an act that brings their close friendship almost to the breaking point ([[Act of Contrition]]).
*During a surprise encounter with Cylons during [[nugget]] training, Starbuck destroys several Cylon Raiders, but her ship is damaged and tumbles towards a small red moon with an unbreathable atmosphere. With her Viper in a fatal flat-spin, Starbuck is forced to eject from her Viper ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]).
*Thrace (nursing a damaged knee) repairs the downed Cylon Raider found on the inhabitable moon and returns to ''Galactica'', giving the Fleet a vital piece of Cylon fighter technology for study and use.
*The recovering Thrace, off flight status, is asked by Commander Adama to plan a special attack on a Cylon [[tylium]] refinery. The tactical planning role is not something she relishes, and she frequently shows resentment towards others for her condition ([[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]).
*During Thrace's undesired interrogation of a Cylon prisoner, a copy of a known [[Humanoid Cylon|Cylon]] named [[Leoben Conoy]], she uses some drastic acts to try to extract the information from the humanoid Cylon ([[Flesh and Bone]]).
[[image:Starbuck-Kobols_Last_Gleaming_pt2.jpg|thumb|right|'''Starbuck''' retrieves the [[Arrow of Apollo]] ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II]]).]]
*Thrace is assigned to plant a nuclear device on board a [[Basestar (RDM)|basestar]] in orbit around [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]]. She disobeys orders to retrieve the [[Arrow of Apollo]] at the request of President Roslin, since she discovered Commander Adama's speech concerning knowledge of the location of Earth was a lie. She [[FTL|jump]]s to Caprica ([[Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I]]), landing in [[Delphi]] in the captured Cylon [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Raider]], depriving the [[The Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] of the valuable military asset.
*In the [[Delphi Museum of the Colonies]] with the Arrow, she is violently attacked by a copy of [[Number Six]]. Despite being heavily outmatched in the fight, Thrace luckily defeats the Cylon.
*At the museum, she reunites with [[Karl Agathon|Helo]], whom she thought dead, and discovers a second copy of [[Sharon Valerii]], realizing instantly that the woman is a Cylon.
*Valerii, fearing for her child, steals Thrace's Raider. In exasperation, Starbuck only mutters: "Bitch took my ride" ([[Scattered]]). Like Helo, Starbuck is left with no way to return to the Fleet unless she could find her Raider or another Cylon spacecraft, as only Cylon navigational computers are powerful enough to plot jumps over such large distances..
*Starbuck berates Helo's love for the Caprica copy of Valerii. Thrace finds the keys of her surplus military utility vehicle in her old jacket in her old apartment. Thrace has a ride again, if only to move more efficiently about Caprica ([[Valley of Darkness]]).
[[Image:ThraceAndersResistance.jpg|thumb|right|Thrace and Anders playing Pyramid on Caprica ([[Resistance (episode)|Resistance]]).]]
*Thrace and Helo meet a [[Caprica Resistance|resistance movement]] on Caprica. Thrace and [[Samuel Anders]] strike up a rapport as fellow [[Pyramid (RDM)|Pyramid]] players and end up as lovers.
*During planning to steal a [[Heavy Raider]], Thrace is shot in a military action, waking up in a hospital on Caprica. Thrace is told by her doctor, [[Simon]], that Anders died from wounds he suffered in getting Thrace to safety.
*Thrace discovers that Simon is working with a [[Number Six|known humanoid Cylon]]. She overhears that the next day he plans to extract her ovaries for use in the Cylon's attempts to study and create a hybrid Cylon/human embryo. Simon also makes the mistake of calling Thrace by her callsign, Starbuck, which she had never revealed.
*Staggering and in pain, Thrace kills Simon and escapes the hospital, but not before clocking a Six copy with a fire extinguisher and destroying the local farm power supply, mercy-killing [[Sue-Shaun]] and several other women in the facility.
*Another Simon copy appears just as the Resistance attacks the facility. The second Simon, now revealed as a humanoid Cylon himself, is immediately killed by the Resistance, but a squad of [[Cylon Centurion]]s appear and pins the Resistance down. Luckily, [[Sharon Agathon|Caprica-Valerii]] swoops in with a stolen [[Heavy Raider]], destroys the Centurions and flies the Resistance and Thrace out of harm's way.
*Thrace promises to Anders that she'll [[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I|return with a rescue mission]] for the remaining survivors. Anders returns the Arrow of Apollo to Thrace, which he hid on the resistance grounds for safekeeping ([[The Farm]]).
*Thrace, Helo and the pregnant Valerii land on the ''[[Astral Queen]]'' in the Heavy Raider. Finding the [[Laura Roslin faction]] in orbit of [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]], Thrace is reunited with Lee Adama. He kisses her impulsively, catching Thrace by pleasant surprise, but a tense standoff follows when Adama discovers that another Valerii copy has returned with them. Roslin helps defuse the situation, and Thrace delivers the Arrow of Apollo to the President.
*Temporarily removed from miltary protocol, Lee Adama playfully teases Thrace by stealing a pyramid ball she took from Caprica. Adama senses her depression about Caprica and tells her that he'd be happy to hear about any problems she had. He also let slip that he loved her, which brightened Thrace's mood to the point where she teased him back about his slip.
*With a team led by Laura Roslin, Lee Adama, and, later, joined by the recovered Commander Adama, Thrace enters the [[Tomb of Athena]] and successfully uses the Arrow of Apollo to activate a hologram that shows constellations of the Twelve Colonies' ancient symbols.
*Thrace realizes that they are on a recreation of Earth. Together with Lee Adama, they locate the Lagoon Nebula, a celestial body known to Commander Adama and Lee Adama, and gather sufficient information to begin an actual course to Earth ([[Home, Part II]]).

[[Image:Starbuck.uniform.jpg|thumb|Thrace in dress uniform ([[Act of Contrition]]).]]

*Thrace shows off the impressive stealth abilities of the new [[Blackbird]] fighter in her maiden flight ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]).
*With the arrival of ''[[Pegasus (RDM)|Pegasus]]'', Admiral [[Helena Cain]] summarily assigns Thrace (and Lee Adama) to ''Pegasus'' after digesting the reports of ''Galactica'''s officers.
*[[Cole Taylor|The ''Pegasus'' CAG]] removes Thrace from the Cylon recon mission. Lee Adama secretly tells her to use the [[Blackbird]] to take recon photos of the Cylon Unknown ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]).
*Returning from her very successful mission, the [[Blackbird]]'s lack of a Colonial transponder is mistaken for a Cylon [[Raider]] on [[DRADIS]], and Starbuck is nearly confronted and shot at by Vipers from ''Pegasus'' and ''Galactica''. After narrowly avoiding certain death by declaring herself a friendly, Thrace transmits her recon photos to ''Pegasus''.
*Admiral Cain is very impressed with Starbuck's performance and promotes her to Captain and ''Pegasus'' CAG.
*Thrace is assigned the task of planning the joint attack on the Resurrection Ship, but successfully asks to have Lee Adama on her team, restoring him to flight status.
*After she briefs Cain and Commander Adama on her battle plan, Adama asks Thrace privately to assassinate Cain after the battle is complete. Adama fears that if Cain continues to command, the Fleet would be in mortal jeopardy from Cain's draconian command ([[Resurrection Ship, Part I]]).
*Thrace's battle planning, as before on the [[tylium]] [[The Hand of God (RDM)|mine]], works to near-perfection, with the Resurrection Ship destroyed and its supporting basestars.
*As a result of the battle events, Thrace is left without backup as she walks to the ''Pegasus'' CIC to shoot Cain, obviously afraid and apprehensive. When Commander Adama calls, Thrace slowly moves her hand to her sidearm but, to her relief, Adama does not give the kill order and cryptically instructs her to stand down ([[Resurrection Ship, Part II]]).
*Starbuck and [[Kat]] are involved in the protection of a mining operation from periodic Raider attacks. One Raider, nicknamed [[Scar (Raider)|Scar]], fuels an intensive rivalry for the pilot's "top gun" honor. Thrace, still depressed over her inability to convince Fleet command to initiate a rescue for Samuel Anders and his resistance, drinks heavily and obsesses over removing Scar from the sky, even at the cost of her life. Fortunately, Starbuck realizes the futility of her actions, and works together with Kat to destroy the remarkably dangerous Raider ([[Scar]]).
*A few weeks later, Thrace takes leave on ''[[Cloud Nine]]'' when she was dragooned into rescuing Lee Adama and several other ''Galactica'' crew and residents after terrorists take them hostage in exchange for the incarcerated [[Sharon Valerii]]. Thrace gathers intel on the situation, but her cover is blown. In the retreating firefight, Lee Adama is caught in the crossfire. After the situation is resolved, Thrace intended to sit at Adama's bedside, only to discover that Dualla beat her there ([[Sacrifice]]).
*Later, Thrace is assigned to ''Pegasus'' as a flight trainer. Though the pilots like her, Commander [[Barry Garner]] does not, eventually confining her to quarters for "insubordination." Following the [[Battle of the Binary Star System|ill-fated rescue and retreat]] from a Cylon ambush (where Thrace leads the fighters), Thrace informs new ''Pegasus'' Commander Lee Adama that she was taking over his old CAG post aboard ''Galactica'' ([[The Captain's Hand]]).
*Thrace gets her wish: The Caprica rescue is approved, and she leads a large Raptor squadron to the planet. The group soon met up with Anders, who reports that their HQ had been destroyed and Thrace's timing was just perfect. A squad of Centurions ambush and pin down the group moments later ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]).
*Still pinned down from attack fire, Starbuck and Anders agree to kill each other to avoid capture and internment at a [[Farms|farm]]. But the attack stops, and a [[Cavil|man]] appears, praising the [[Lords of Kobol|Gods]] as he announces that the Cylons not only have ceased fire, but are abandoning the Twelve Colonies. Starbuck isn't really surprised to discover that the man, known as Brother [[Cavil]], was a Cylon upon their return to the Fleet.
*Starbuck and Anders proceed to get drunk, and host a disastrous visitation with Lee Adama. This apparently led to a rift between the two comrades.
[[Image:Leobenkara.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Leoben with Kara Thrace ([[Exodus, Part I]]).]]
*The evening of the founding of [[New Caprica]], Thrace slept with Lee Adama and proclaimed her love for him as she was uncertain regarding her feelings toward Anders. The following morning she quickly married Anders in a ceremonry near the river. This caused a rift between Kara and Lee that lasted for over a year.
*Life on New Caprica tempered Thrace, and she often behaved in ways Starbuck never would have, including hugging Colonel Tigh and pampering Anders during his bout with an illness.
*She watches in horror at the sudden arrival of hundreds of Cylon ships in the sky over New Caprica. A few of ''Galactica's'' former crew gather near Thrace, looking to her for guidance. Starbuck responds the only way she knows how: "Fight 'em until we can't" ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]).
*After Baltar's surrender of New Caprica, Conoy keeps Thrace prisoner in an apartment located within the Cylon-built [[New Caprica Detention Center]] in an attempt to convince Thrace that she loves him and also convert her to the [[Cylon Religion|Cylon monotheistic religion]]. She repeatedly kills Conoy a total of five times in an attempt to convince him to let her go ("[[Occupation]]", "[[Precipice]]").
*Conoy introduces Thrace to a small child named [[Kacey Brynn|Kacey]], who appears to be approximately two to three years in age, whom he claims is their biological daughter. He explains that the child was created using one of Thrace's extracted ovaries ([[The Farm]]) and his genetic material. Conflicted, Thrace leaves the child unattended, which later results in Kacey falling down the apartment's stairs ([[Precipice]]). After the fall, Thrace begins to change her attitude towards the child and begins to offer affection towards Conoy ("[[Precipice]]", "[[Exodus, Part I]]").
*Upon her return to ''Galactica'' after Admiral Adama's daring rescue attempt, Thrace heartbreakingly discovers that Kacey was simply another manipulation on Conoy's part — Kacey is merely a human child whom the Cylons had abducted months ago ([[Exodus, Part II]]).
*Bearing the psychological scars of her four month ordeal with Leoben and Kacey, Thrace is recruited by [[Seelix]] as a last minute replacement juror in the [[Circle]] after [[Samuel Anders]]' resignation. She is the fifth vote to find Gaeta of treason and collaboration. Thrace's involvement in the Circle precipitates the breakup of her marriage with Anders. Later, when Gaeta is about to be sentenced and executed in one of ''Galactica's'' [[launch tubes (RDM)|launch tubes]], she demands him to beg for his life. Thrace physically assaults him and goes down the litany of "lies" that Gaeta told her earlier about him helping the [[New Caprica Resistance|insurgency]]. As she does so, [[Galen Tyrol]], one of the Circle's jurors and the sixth vote to convict, overhears this and confirms the story. In a sense of confusion after learning that Gaeta was telling the truth, Thrace leaves the launch tube ([[Collaborators]]).
*During a combat exercise between Vipers, Thrace breaks formation and collides with another pilot, forcing an end to the war games and causing Apollo to revoke her flight status. Later, at her bunk she is met by Kacey and her mother, whom she dismisses, telling Kacey's mother not to visit her again. In the pilots' rec room, Thrace and Colonel Tigh begin to sow dissent between the survivors of New Caprica and the crew that stayed behind on ''Galactica'', insinuating that those who stayed behind did not suffer like those on New Caprica did, and that the crew of ''Galactica'' took too long to organize a rescue. Admiral Adama, upon learning of this from [[Karl Agathon]], confronts Thrace and Tigh on their behavior. He challenges them to shoot him, as their constant complaining is tantamount to pulling the trigger. When neither do, Adama throws Thrace off her chair and demands that both she and Tigh shape up and move on with their lives. Spurred by Adama's words, Thrace cuts her hair and returns to duty. Later, in uniform, she visits Kacey and her mother on the [[Camp Oil Slick|converted hangar deck]] ([[Torn]]).
*Thrace enters an illicit affair with Lee Adama, rekindling their romance on New Caprica ([[Unfinished Business]]). Both Anders and Adama's wife, Lieutenant [[Dualla]], are more than vaguely aware of the pair's sexual tension. Major Adama soon ends the affair and reconciles, but Thrace refuses to give Anders any further attention than a periodic sexual fling.
*Starbuck is involved with the defense of the [[Temple of Five]] but is severely injured, leaving her rescuer, Dualla, to return them to ''Galactica'' ([[Rapture]]). Helo recognizes the strange circular [[Eye of Jupiter|mandala]] (created 4,000 years before) in the Temple and its resemblance to a symbol that Thrace painted in her apartment. When shown the symbol, the recovering Thrace is darkly reminded of Leoben's prophesy.
*During refueling operations above a gas giant, Starbuck is continually attracted to what she believes is a Cylon contact, which she chases to find a planetary storm that resembles the mandala. She dives into it, almost losing control before coming to her senses and returning.
*Command staff and Thrace question her competency to continue flying, but Major Adama volunteers encouragement and offers to fly as her wingman on her next [[Combat Air Patrol|CAP]].
*Starbuck finds herself attracted by another apparent Cylon contact. As she descended, her Viper is struck by debris and she, while unconscious, experiences a revelation about her mother, [[Socrata Thrace]], and guided through the vision by what looks to be a Leoben copy.
*Starbuck regains consciousness but chooses to continue her descent despite Apollo's desperate pleas to ascend. "I'll see you on the other side (...) Just let me go" were her last words as her Viper explodes. A grief-stricken Apollo tells [[CIC]] that he did not see any ejection ([[Maelstrom]]).
*While preparing for a Cylon engagement near the [[Ionian nebula]], Apollo detects a bogey on [[DRADIS]]. While he searches for the target, Apollo finds himself momentarily in a cat-and-mouse chase game with the mysterious target. As Apollo attempts to regain a visual on the bogey, it positions itself next to his Viper.

== Currently... ==

*The pristine Viper Mark II that comes alongside is flown by Starbuck herself. A shocked and confused Apollo listens to the apparently-resurrected Kara Thrace, who tells him that she has been to [[Earth (RDM)|Earth]] and she has returned to take the Fleet to it ([[Crossroads, Part II]]).
*After the [[Battle of the Ionian Nebula|battle at the nebula]], she returns to ''Galactica'' where everyone is astounded to see her alive. While everyone believed her dead for over two months, only several hours have passed for her. She has returned with recon photography of Earth, but no navigational data or knowledge of how she got there. Almost everyone thinks she maybe a Cylon or a Cylon trap, and thus don't believe her.
*When the Fleet jumps further away from the Ionian Nebula, she experiences headaches and says that she is losing the intuitive feeling of the way to Earth. Desperate to lead the Colonials there, she breaks into Adama's quarters and confronts Roslin at gun point ([[He That Believeth In Me]]).
*Thrace is eventually subdued by Marines and imprisoned in the [[brig]]. Although not sure what to make of her claims, Admiral Adama releases her later, and gives her command of the ''[[Demetrius]]'', and a crew including [[Karl Agathon]] and Samuel Anders, telling her to try to find Earth ([[Six of One]]).
*Thrace irritates her crew by frequent, unexplained course changes and rarely leaving her quarters, where she holes herself up to study star charts. When her husband confronts her about her command style and their marriage, she tells him that she is not the same person he married and tries to throw him out of her cabin. However, when Anders holds her, she tells him that he wants to have sex in order to feel something. Afterwards, she says that she feels distanced from her body and the events around her ([[The Ties That Bind]]).
* When a [[Leoben Conoy]] copy comes aboard the ''Demetrius'' with the offer of an alliance with the Cylons, a power struggle among the crew breaks out when Thrace orders to jump to his baseship ([[The Road Less Traveled]]). After standing down, Thrace decides to accompany Conoy with a small team. On his baseship she meets the Cylon [[Hybrid]], who repeats the [[first Hybrid]]'s [[The Destiny|prophecy]] ([[Razor]]) and gives her her next task: join the Cylons to unbox [[Number Three]] to learn what she knows of the Final Five ([[Faith]]).
* After the unboxing, Thrace reacts with shock and disbelief when she learns that her husband is a Cylon. She investigates the [[Starbuck's Viper|Viper she returned in]] and notices that it receives a strange signal, giving her a direct bearing to Earth. Her discovery stops the imminent execution of Colonel Tigh and leads to a truce with the [[Cylon Civil War|Cylon rebels]]. After arriving at Earth, Thrace is part of the first group on the surface, but finds only a destroyed city ([[Revelations]]).

==Lord of Kobol, Hear My Prayer==

Despite her tough, rebellious exterior, Kara is deeply spiritual and possesses a great deal of faith in the Colonial pantheon. She usually prays in moments of mourning (such as when it was thought that [[Apollo]] had [[Miniseries|been killed]]) or desperation (such as when she Kara was [[You Can't Go Home Again|trapped on a desolate moon]] with a broken knee and low oxygen). She has explicitly stated that she does indeed believe in the [[Lords of Kobol]].

==The Destiny==
{{mainarticle|The Destiny}}

From early in her life, Kara Thrace has been guided through her mother's actions for a special role in life, a plot point that begins with a [[Leoben Conoy]] copy in the Season 1 episode, "[[Flesh and Bone]]". In "[[Maelstrom]]", the character dies, but reappears as a possible herald at the end of Season 3.

A Cylon [[First Hybrid|Hybrid]], speaking to Major [[Kendra Shaw]] moments before their deaths, warns her that Thrace is the herald of the apocalypse and the harbinger of death, that she would lead the human race to its end, and that she is not to be followed ([[Razor]]). Similarly, another [[Hybrid]] describes her as the harbinger of death, and she would lead them to salvation and destruction ([[Faith]]).

==Notes==
*On the Sci-Fi Channel's preview for season 2.5 (US), Katee Sackoff is quoted as saying that Starbuck is "the best Viper pilot...EVER."
*[[Wikipedia:Thrace|Thrace]] was a region in south-eastern Europe that was heavily influenced by the ancient Greeks and was eventually conquered by [[Wikipedia:Philip II of Macedonia|Phillip II of Macedonia]]. Thracians were considered by most to be the most ferocious fighters and were often highly paid mercenaries for Greek kings.
*Thrace may have been named after [[w:Thrax (mythology)|Thrax]], the son of [[w:Ares|Ares]], the god of war, who was said to reside on the Thracian plain in Greek mythology.
*After auditioning for the role of [[Anastasia Dualla|Dualla]], [[Grace Park]] was asked by director [[Michael Rymer]] to audition for the role of Starbuck, and she was actually one of two finalists up for the role (the other being Katee Sackhoff, who got the part). Ultimately Park was cast as [[Sharon Valerii|Sharon "Boomer" Valerii]].
*In a TV Guide [http://online.tvguide.com/newsearch/detail.aspx?id=4371595&sourcetype=S&progseriesparentid=4371595&tvobjectid=191395&keyword=Battlestar+Galactica&referrer=search1 photo shoot] at the BSG studios, Katee Sackhoff explained that the [[tattoo]] that Starbuck bears on her left arm is a wing and a circle and has half of the constellation of Capricorn (a reference to [[Caprica]] obviously) and a small symbol of the planet as well. It matches a mirror image of the tattoo on Anders' right arm. When the two of them hold each other with their respective arms crossing, the 2 tattoos come together to form an image of a single ring with 2 wings that is supposed to represent their union. According to Sackhoff, Kara and Anders had the tattoos done around the time of their wedding.
*The license plate on Thrace's truck on Caprica is "FB 42 E3" ([[Valley of Darkness]]).

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